Exclusive Fireworks
The Deutsche Bank VIP Lounge at
the TEFAF Art Fair
TEFAF
2007
Photo: Loraine Bodewesl
The
world's most opulent art fair was even more opulent this year. The 2007
TEFAF, an abbreviation for The European Fine Art Fair, showed exquisite
antiquities dating back 7,000 years as well as Old Masters' works and
classical Modernist paintings. 20th and 21st century art was better
represented than ever before, with the spectrum of artists ranging from
Picasso and Picabia to Louise Bourgeois and Paul McCarthy. And the Asian
art section was widened to cater to collectors' growing interest in
asiatica. In keeping with these trends, Deutsche Bank Art presented a
current video work by the Chinese star artist Cai Guo-Qiang at a stand in
front of its VIP lounge.
Eingangshalle
zur TEFAF 2007
Photo: Pieter de
Vries
On the occasion of TEFAF's 20th
anniversary, the TEFAF
featured a new design. Instead of the traditional sea of tulips, this time
the fair design reflected modernist objectivity. An illuminated ensemble
of horizontal black-and-white Op Art stripes guided visitors to the
exhibition halls. Reduction was also a watchword when it came to the
number of visitors: less is more. As could be observed on the opening day
of this year's Armory Show,
art shows are currently being frequent by less but wealthier clientele,
and not only at the previews. The anniversary motto, "Simply the Best",
therefore takes on another meaning. The number of visitors fell by 15
percent to 71,000, the intentional result of higher entrance prices. This
gave the fair a "more constructive sales climate and a more pleasant
atmosphere", in the words of a TEFAF spokeswoman. At the same, the number
of private jet landings at Maastricht-Aachen Airport reportedly increased
by 45 percent to 200.
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Chinesische Tapir-Figur
bei
Littleton & Hennessy Asian Art, London
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According to a gallery owner, collectors of modern art
continued to increasingly buy Old Masters' paintings. Among the
Impressionist works sold were paintings by Degas,
Sisley, and Caillebotte
. The most expensive antique bronze piece from China to date, a 2200-year-
old tapir that sold for 9.23 million euros, will now return to where it
came from. A Chinese private collector bought the precious animal, which
was used as a wine jug, and now intends to present the piece in an
"important Chinese museum". A private collector purchased a portrait of a
woman by Picasso from 1936
for 11.26 million euros. In addition, works by Braque,
Jawlensky,
Campendonk,
Imi Knoebel,
and John
Chamberlain were sold, ensuring that Modernism "fared excellently" at
the TEFAF, originally established as a fair for Old Master paintings.
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Cai Guo-Qiang, Illusion II: Explosion
Project
Photo: Hiro Ihara, (c)
Courtesy of Cai Studio
The growing importance
of the section for contemporary art was underlined by a prominent
newcomer. While the New York Gagosian
gallery was not present this year, Hauser
& Wirth made a spectacular debut. In addition to works by Paul
McCarthy, John
Currin, Elisabeth
Peyton, the stand featured one of Louise
Bourogeois' gigantic spiders (four million U.S. dollars). In
addition, there was a huge selection of works in the Asian room at this
year's event, including objects discovered on archaeological digs,
porcelain and furniture from the Ming
Dynasty, as well as a camel sculpture ridden by a monkey from the Tang
Dynasty (618-906 AD) which was sold for 130,000 euros by Vanderven
& Vanderven Oriental Art from 's-Hertogenbosch.
Video-Installation
von Cai Guo-Qiang am Stand der Deutsche Bank Art
Photo:
Maria Morais
By contrast, Deutsche
Bank presented a very contemporary work at its VIP lounge. The video
work Illusion II by Cai
Guo-Qiang was on display in the lounge entrance area. Guo-Quiang
created the work in 2006 for his exhibition Head
On at the Deutsche
Guggenheim in Berlin. In an empty lot in the middle of the city with
the professional support of the Babelsberg
Film Studio and according to the artist’s instructions, a small, to
all appearances typically German house was constructed. Fireworks and
rockets of all types and effects filled the house’s interior. In the
background the ruins of the former Anhalter
Bahnhof added a very special aura to the scenery. Before a setting sun
in the evening Berlin sky, a fascinating spectacle began that lasted for
20 minutes: fireworks exploded in colorful cascades and stars, and the
house went up in flames.
Die
VIP-Lounge der Deutsche Bank auf der TEFAF 2007 vorher...
Photo:
Maria Morais
Guo-Qiang's explosive work was
shown at the TEFAF in a modernist ambience inspired by the motif of
fireworks. In a rhythmic arrangement large, printed mirrors were
positioned on the walls showing collages from fireworks motifs, abstract
glitz and glamour elements, and spherical rings. Thus, in the design
minimalist and Concept Art tendencies of the 1960s and 70s were coupled
with fin de siècle influences. Festive and elegant, Deutsche Bank's VIP
lounge boasted a design that combined the impressive moment of Illusions
II with the exclusive character of the art fair, which is turning
increasingly to modernist works.
Maria Morais
...und
nachher
Photo: Maria Morais
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