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The coming art
Established names with a solid track record, the return of painting and the consolidation of video art as a full form of artistic expression will mark artistic creation in the coming years
Contemporary art has become a passion. Never before has it been so democratized. From actors such as Brad Pitt or Silvester Stallone to tennis players of the likes of John McEnroe, or star film directors such as Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino – all have been struck by the peculiar collecting craze.
At the last Art Basel (Switzerland), the actor Brad Pitt paid a million dollars for an oil painting called Etappe by German artist Neo Rauch.
Such stratospheric prices are a distinguishing feature of the art of our time – along with the scarcity of good works and an influx of speculative money from China, India, Russia and the Arab Emirates.
Creators of quality
The times when speculation predominated have passed and collectors no longer wish to risk their capital, preferring to go instead for the top names. The Best of the World, guided by specialist consultants such as Arnet or Artfacts, has tracked down these creators, and all have one common trait: great quality in their work.
The world of contemporary art revolves around these world-renowned artists: Damien Hirst, Gerhard Richter, Louise Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman, Bill Viola, Richard Serra, etc.
But the trend of the times is set not just by artists but also by art media. Video art, according to the experts, will be the top medium in the 21st century. It is already used with great talent by figures such Bill Viola, Bruce Nauman or Tony Ousler, etc. That this is not yet endorsed by the market is a different matter.
A return to oil painting
In this environment it is understandable that there has been a rediscovery of painting in recent years, with artists such as John Currin, Elisabeth Payton, Lisa Yuskavage, Peter Doig or Julie Merethu.
At the same time a peculiar change is taking place. If the centre of the artistic world was once said to be New York, now that pre-eminence is spread across the capitals of emerging countries, such as Sao Paulo or New Delhi. In Europe, London and Berlin have retained their élan.
And in some of these centres, cutting-edge venues have proliferated. The century’s top architects, such as Zaha Hadid (Rome Contemporary Art Museum), Jean Nouvel (Reina Sofía Museum), Herzog & de Meuron (Caixa Forum, Madrid; Tate Modern, London) or Norman Foster (Dallas Center for Arts), have all left their mark.
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Published in Hobbies and Collecting by Miguel Ángel García Vega on 30/03/2010
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