SOTHEBY’S MAISON TO OPEN IN HONG KONG’S LANDMARK CHATER

Sotheby’s is set to open its new two-storey Maison in Hong Kong’s Landmark Chater on July 27, as part of Hongkong Land’s “Tomorrow’s Central” project. This 24,000 sq ft space aims to position Hong Kong as a global arts hub, blending culture with commerce. The Maison will host year-round exhibitions and performances, alongside Sotheby’s signature auction shows.

The debut exhibitions include “Bodhi: Masterpieces of Monumental Buddhist Art,” showcasing Buddhist sculptures, and “Ice: Two Masterworks on Loan from the Long Museum,” featuring Gerhard Richter’s Eisberg (1982) and a rare Ru ware brush washer from circa 1100. The ground floor will offer museum-like retail experiences, including dinosaur fossils, samurai armour, contemporary art, rare books, and manuscripts. Banksy’s Girl Without Balloon (2021) will also be on display.

Nicolas Chow, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, envisions the Maison as a pivotal cultural hub designed to inspire and engage collectors and new audiences alike. To commemorate its opening, Sotheby’s has released a short film featuring actor Charles Dance, celebrating the power of creativity. The Maison is now open to the public.

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KOREA IMPLEMENTS FIRST ART PROMOTION ACT TO ENSURE FAIR CONTRACTS AND WARRANTIES

Korea's inaugural Art Promotion Act, first announced on 25th July 2023 and effective from Friday 26th July 2024 , aims to provide fair contracts for artists and warranties for art buyers. This law marks Korea's first exclusive regulation of the arts market, addressing a gap previously filled by conventional practices. The Act, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, includes annual market analysis and the establishment of a promotion strategy every five years.

The Act allows artists to demand a share of profits from the resale of their works, effective for 30 years posthumously, benefiting their families. A new art business reporting system will commence in 2026, with the resale compensation policy starting in 2027. Additionally, the Culture Ministry will enhance the "Art Bank" facility, creating a Public Art Bank to manage state-owned artworks more effectively.

The Art Promotion Act is designed to nurture Korea's arts ecosystem, providing a structured and supportive environment for artists and ensuring transparency and fairness in the art market.

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CHRISTIE’S ART+TECH SUMMIT 2024 EXPLORES AI AND CULTURE

Christie’s hosted its eighth Art+Tech Summit on July 17-18, 2024, at the Rockefeller Center in New York, featuring industry leaders from art, technology, and luxury sectors. Key speakers included Steve Wozniak, Beeple, Gabriela Hearst, and Refik Anadol. The summit focused on four pillars of innovation: AI in Real Life, Art and its Market, Thoughtful Luxury, and New Paradigms in Technology.

Steve Wozniak emphasised the importance of positivity and creativity in tech, while Refik Anadol discussed AI’s potential to enhance human creativity. Gabriela Hearst highlighted sustainable fashion, and panels explored the intersection of physical and digital art.

Attendees previewed Gen One: Innovations from the Paul G. Allen Collection, featuring historical objects like Einstein’s letter to FDR and Steve Jobs’ Apple 1 computer. The summit also examined digital art’s impact, with artists like Beeple reflecting on new formats.

The event concluded with discussions on spatial computing and future technologies. Christie’s will host the next summit in Hong Kong this October and return to New York in July 2025.

QATAR PROPOSES NEW PAVILION FOR VENICE BIENNALE’S GIARDINI

Qatar is set to potentially establish a new national pavilion in the Giardini, a key venue of the Venice Biennale, marking the first new pavilion in nearly a decade. This announcement was made by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the Venice Biennale’s new president, as part of a deal between the city of Venice and Qatar Museums. The agreement follows the resumption of direct flights between Qatar and Venice by Qatar Airways in June.

Buttafuoco highlighted the Biennale’s role as a “thermometer of geopolitics,” emphasising the artistic and cultural significance of this collaboration. The Giardini, known for its historic pavilions representing countries like the US, Great Britain, France, and Germany, currently hosts 29 national pavilions. Australia's pavilion, rebuilt in 2015, is the most recent addition.

Despite Qatar’s significant cultural investments, the absence of a dedicated pavilion at the Biennale has been noted. The proposed pavilion reflects Qatar’s ongoing commitment to cultural engagement on a global stage, aligning with the Venice Biennale's mission to showcase international artistic expressions and geopolitical narratives. Specific details of the pavilion and its features are yet to be disclosed.

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