The millionaire arts fair
SP Arte, an event that generated R$ 32 million last year, is reaching its seventh edition, more mature and diverse than ever. An estimated 18 visitors are expected.
247 - The most important commercial event for visual arts in Brazil, SP-Arte 2011 - São Paulo International Art Fair, begins this Thursday, December 12th, in São Paulo. The seventh edition of the fair, which generated R$ 32 million in sales last year, runs until Sunday the 15th and promises to be even bigger this year, bringing together more gallery owners and works, and also providing a space for the exhibition of large-scale works, installations, and videos. This exhibition is located on the second floor of the Ciccilo Matarazzo Pavilion at the Bienal and features works by artists such as Iole de Freitas, Luiz Zerbini, Regina Silveira, Franz Krajcberg, and Julio Le Parc, as well as a selection of videos curated by Paula Alzugaray. The fair exhibits works from 89 galleries, 14 of which are foreign. In total, it offers the public 2,5 works of art, most of which are contemporary. Founded and directed by lawyer and collector Fernanda Feitosa, the fair was created to fill a gap in the Brazilian art market which, although registering significant demand, never had an event that centralized sales as happens in other sectors of the market.
The idea that Brazilians don't have a habit of consuming works of art has been shattered in just a few years, with figures increasing year after year, reaching R$ 32 million last year. And national creations have also had a good reception abroad. In 2009, the purchase of Brazilian pieces by collectors from other countries generated revenues of US$ 14,5 million, according to Apex (the import and investment agency). The main destinations for these creations are England, the USA, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Sweden. The value of the works varies between R$ 800 and R$ 3 million. Among the highlights are the Brazilians Waltercio Caldas, Antonio Dias, and Cildo Meireles, and the Lithuanian Zilvinas Kempinas, who brings his installation "Lemniscate" to the country.
SP-Arte - Bienal Pavilion (Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n, gate 3, Ibirapuera Park). Thursday and Friday, from 2 pm to 10 pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 12 pm to 8 pm. R$ 30. Until May 15th. Today, opening from 6 pm to 10 pm.