China Fine Art Auction Information: Modern and Contemporary Volume Full-Speed Search Guide. Nine

Author: Da Yunhe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Since the 1990s, China's market has risen an emerging industry of art auction. The collection of artworks has gradually expanded from primarily involving national cultural and institutions with occasional participation of a few private individuals to encompass a wide range of social strata. At the same time, it has opened up an increasingly vast art market. As the saying goes, "Prosperity promotes collection, chaos stores gold." The flourishing art market is a symbol of economic prosperity, rising personal wealth, and harmonious social development. The motivations for collecting artworks mainly fall into two categories: one is for spiritual enjoyment, to enrich cultural life, improve artistic appreciation, or to decorate homes and beautify living environments; the other is as an economic investment, seeking preservation of value or appreciation. Indeed, some people pursue both.
Painting and calligraphy art, due to its long tradition, unique national artistic charm, and profound historical and cultural connotations, is favored by people of all levels. Paintings and calligraphy have become a major part of the art auction market. In recent years, with the dramatic increase in demand, the market prices of both ancient and modern paintings and calligraphy have soared, repeatedly setting new highs.