Riding the Storm
In line with projections of slowed global economic growth in 2020 amid widespread political unrest and strained international trade relations, sales at art fairs in January and February were mediocre, though blue-chip spaces at Taipei Dangdai reported more lucrative transactions.
TAIPEI
The second edition of Taipei Dangdai (January 17–19) once again took place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Compared to the previous year, the total number of participants increased from 90 to 99, with more than 60 returnees. Among the 2020 exhibitors, 23 maintain permanent spaces in Taiwan, while a majority have bases across mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.
Booths tended to eschew installations and videos in (2019), Jenny Holzer’s oil-on-linen abstraction (2014–15), and Keith Tyson’s painted female nude (2009) in Asian foundations for USD 475,000, USD 350,000, and USD 129,700 respectively. Perrotin (Paris/New York/Tokyo/Seoul/Hong Kong/Shanghai) sold out its solo presentation of Eddie Martinez’s abstract floral canvases, priced between USD 50,000–200,000. Kukje Gallery (Seoul/Busan) brought a roster of Korean and international artists, finding takers for Julian Opie’s bronze sculpture of a woman, (2018), priced at GBP 110,000 (USD 143,140). Noteworthy sales at White Cube (London/Hong Kong) included Darren Almond’s landscape photographs from his series (1998–), and Al Held’s abstract expressionist paintings, all to Taiwanese art foundations at undisclosed prices.
