Trump-Biden dipole and the Iranian art market from the perspective of Hossein Hashempoor/ Tehran auction, Baran auction over complex roads

Tehran. (Iranart)-Hossein Hashempoor said that Describing these conditions, we are facing a crucial month for the art market in November.

Hossein Hashempoor, journalist and editor of Iran Art, said: "It was recently announced that the Sotheby's Middle East auction, like the Christie's Middle East auction, will be held online. Meanwhile, two Iranian auctions, namely Baran and Tehran, which have been held continuously and without interruption in recent years, have not yet officially announced what preparations they have for this critical time.

Explaining one of the boreholes, Hashempour said that A one-year shutdown may be the first solution that comes across the mind, but due to the uncertainty of the end time of this viral epidemic and also the fixed costs that auctions bear, including staff salaries, office rent, etc.will postpone such speculation to the last resort.

In addition, there is a strategic goal: not to count on Tehran auction, which focuses on contemporary and modern art, and dedicated Baran auction to calligraphy and Iranian Islamic art, the few buyers in this area (compared to the population of 80 million people) Customers who have been brought together by their visual family and who have suffered in the last 9 months due to the collapse of the corona economy, did not give priority to the art market, if auctions are not held, it can go further and make the art market sluggish more widespread. Slow and naturally make their return to this valley more difficult.

He emphasized: the visual society wants to hold these auctions, and considers the postponement of the auctions as a continuation of the stagnation of the art market and, of course, the work of the galleries; Although the visual artists have complained about the auction due to the rising price of the visual artifacts, they also acknowledge that these auctions have been able to inject a great deal of energy into the art market and tangible added value to the artwork. young collectors have started buying artwork to compete in these auctions and have never bought from any gallery before!

Hashempoor pointed out: Some also link the procrastination of auctions in announcing whether or not to hold them based on the US elections; Just as everything in the country is suspended, whether it is Trump or Biden, the art market has an eye on this crucial political equation; Who does not know that the turmoil in the prices of foreign currencies worst than the seven-magnitude earthquake shakes the foundations of Iran's economy; Of course, 30 and several thousand tomans compare to one US dollar for buying and selling works, while threatening, also brings opportunities for the art market, the opportunity of which cannot be described here; But instability in foreign currencies is a deadly poison to any economic phenomenon, including the art economy.

"In such a difficult situation, online auctioning seems to be the most accessible option to continue operating this year, as international and reputable auction houses have done, but perhaps such a solution makes sense." Not necessary in Iran;

The most important reason is that the auction phenomenon is emerging in our country and its life reaches the last decade by force, so buyers and customers are still accustomed to seeing the works up close and about the works with price The above may touch it, And even some of their trusted experts will evaluate them ... In short, the culture of buying online artworks, at least expensive ones, has not been formed yet, and we are probably far from it now.

To prove his hypothesis, the editor of Iran Art referred to the views of the auction managers of Tehran and Baran:

Some time ago, Alireza Sami Azar, the director of the Tehran auction, said that he did not intend to hold the Tehran auction online. He did not even consider Christie's online auction to be an important auction.

"Online auctions can never be as successful as face-to-face auctions, and some institutions that occasionally held auctions were at a very low level with sales incomparable to face-to-face auctions. Overall, economically, it was only to the extent that "They say the process is going on, not more seriously. No one is seriously looking at online auctions."

Although Mahboubeh Kazemi Dolabi, the director of the Baran auction, does not offer a pessimistic assessment of the online auction, she does not hide her doubts about holding it: "We have plans for the fifth rain auction. It is natural that we do not want to be overwhelmed by this virus. Things should not be stopped, but at the same time we should choose a way that ensures the health of individuals in the community and does not hurt anyone, so we have not yet decided on how to hold the auction and we are waiting for the special conditions of those days. Autumn does not have good forecasts; we have talked about holding the fifth rain auction virtually, but the calligraphy works are different and often have to be closely monitored by the buyer and their experts, while global experience says that virtual auctions are not very successful. "We hope to be able to transfer positive energy to the community by adopting the right strategy and holding a successful auction."

Hossein Hashempoor emphasized: The uncertain situation of Iranian auctions is while the majority of galleries in Tehran and, of course, all over Iran, have gone through a very boom in 2020, and many of them due to various bans before art events or closures. Have been or have the least activity; Naturally, this historical disorder tells of the plight of visual artists who can neither hold exhibitions nor have training classes. In addition, the bitter external reality can be seen in abundance with the insane increase in the price of paint, canvas, and the import of materials for the creation of works of art in the list of luxury accessories (!) A wide range of other young painters can even They do not even create a painting and are busy with the honorable job of internet taxis in the deadlock of selling youth works. Naturally, sculptors and other young artists suffer the same pain.

Hashempoor, meanwhile, said: "But the very opposite news that will surely shock you is that, contrary to the general state of the art, which has paralyzed 90% of our art community, in the last two months, the secondary market is hot and thriving." For the works of established masters (masterpieces) that have attracted investors, in this market, which is limited to a few established names, the art market, cash, and instant settlement play the leading role, so these Trades are not very interested in entering auctions; Those familiar with this market know that works by Sohrab, Mohasses, Os Monir, Yektaei ... Lines by Mir Emad, Mirza Gholamreza Isfahani, Kalhor, Darvish, Zarrin Ghalam, etc. have added value such as coins, dollars, and houses.

Hossein Hashempour reminded in the end: Describing these conditions, we are facing a crucial month for the art market in November. It remains to be seen what the auctions will decide. After all, they are private businesses and make decisions based on their own interests.