Celebrity Life

Expert art collectors are well aware that the popularity of an emerging artist can skyrocket rapidly, meaning that their artworks are at risk of only being bought for expensive future resale. New auction house Greenhouse Auctions has created a business model to counter this widespread phenomenon.

This online art platform was founded by Shlomi Rabi, former head of photography sales at Phillips, New York, and former VP, head of photographs for the Americas at Christie's, to address the disparities in the auction art market. "Greenhouse Auctions sprouted in the midst of an economic avalanche, and its mission from day one has been to create an inclusive, inviting, safe space for those in the art world who are often left out," explains the website.

Greenhouse Auctions sales focus on small galleries and emerging artists, whose works are estimated under US$20,000 (HK$155,000). The main goal is to offer an affordable entry point to a new generation of art collectors, and to help upcoming artists whose markets are growing rapidly. The latter can directly sell their work through Greenhouse Auctions, alongside art dealers and gallery owners who want to reach new clients outside international art fairs.

"A lot of these artists are not necessarily household names," said Shlomi Rabi to The Art Market Monitor. "They may not have been at the big auction houses, but it's not because they are not at the calibre, it's simply because they haven't necessarily had the break, and this is what the platform is meant to do: It's exposure, visibility, empowerment, access."

[caption id="attachment_212661" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 'Time Table' by Shay Azoulay is one of the works to be auctioned during the 'Sourdough' sale on December 2 at Greenhouse Auctions. (Image: Greenhouse Auctions)[/caption]

Selling prices remaining confidential

One of its other unique features is that Greenhouse Auctions refuses to make public the final sale prices of works at auction, even though their estimates remain accessible. The policy is designed to discourage buyers who want to make a good return on their investment, while protecting artists from the possibility of seeing their market collapse if one of their works does not find a buyer.

"Auction houses are all about anonymity. Chances are that you won't know who's selling, or why they even bought that work of art a year ago if their intention was to flip it," the site outlines. It explains its difference in that "[b]uyers come [to us] to directly support artists, pursue exciting artwork in a fair and transparent model, and invest in the next generation of talent."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greenhouse Auctions (@greenhouseauctions)

Greenhouse Auctions will launch its first online sale today called "Sourdough". Fifteen works created during the pandemic by artists including Shai Azoulay, Molly A. Greene, T. Eliott Mansa, Nick Farhi, William Osorio and Tony Vazquez-Figueroa will be auctioned.

Sellers will keep 95 percent of the final price of their sold work, while collectors will pay a 20 percent buyer's premium. A part of the sellers fee will be donated to launch a new scholarship with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, benefiting Black colleges in the US.

(Main and featured image: Greenhouse Auctions)

The post This Auction House Wants You to Buy Art Because You Love it, Not For Investment appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Expert art collectors are well aware that the popularity of an emerging artist can skyrocket rapidly, meaning that their artworks are at risk of only being bought for expensive future resale. New auction house Greenhouse Auctions has created a business model to counter this widespread phenomenon.

This online art platform was founded by Shlomi Rabi, former head of photography sales at Phillips, New York, and former VP, head of photographs for the Americas at Christie's, to address the disparities in the auction art market. "Greenhouse Auctions sprouted in the midst of an economic avalanche, and its mission from day one has been to create an inclusive, inviting, safe space for those in the art world who are often left out," explains the website.

Greenhouse Auctions sales focus on small galleries and emerging artists, whose works are estimated under US$20,000 (HK$155,000). The main goal is to offer an affordable entry point to a new generation of art collectors, and to help upcoming artists whose markets are growing rapidly. The latter can directly sell their work through Greenhouse Auctions, alongside art dealers and gallery owners who want to reach new clients outside international art fairs.

"A lot of these artists are not necessarily household names," said Shlomi Rabi to The Art Market Monitor. "They may not have been at the big auction houses, but it's not because they are not at the calibre, it's simply because they haven't necessarily had the break, and this is what the platform is meant to do: It's exposure, visibility, empowerment, access."

[caption id="attachment_212661" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 'Time Table' by Shay Azoulay is one of the works to be auctioned during the 'Sourdough' sale on December 2 at Greenhouse Auctions. (Image: Greenhouse Auctions)[/caption]

Selling prices remaining confidential

One of its other unique features is that Greenhouse Auctions refuses to make public the final sale prices of works at auction, even though their estimates remain accessible. The policy is designed to discourage buyers who want to make a good return on their investment, while protecting artists from the possibility of seeing their market collapse if one of their works does not find a buyer.

"Auction houses are all about anonymity. Chances are that you won't know who's selling, or why they even bought that work of art a year ago if their intention was to flip it," the site outlines. It explains its difference in that "[b]uyers come [to us] to directly support artists, pursue exciting artwork in a fair and transparent model, and invest in the next generation of talent."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greenhouse Auctions (@greenhouseauctions)

Greenhouse Auctions will launch its first online sale today called "Sourdough". Fifteen works created during the pandemic by artists including Shai Azoulay, Molly A. Greene, T. Eliott Mansa, Nick Farhi, William Osorio and Tony Vazquez-Figueroa will be auctioned.

Sellers will keep 95 percent of the final price of their sold work, while collectors will pay a 20 percent buyer's premium. A part of the sellers fee will be donated to launch a new scholarship with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, benefiting Black colleges in the US.

(Main and featured image: Greenhouse Auctions)

The post This Auction House Wants You to Buy Art Because You Love it, Not For Investment appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Expert art collectors are well aware that the popularity of an emerging artist can skyrocket rapidly, meaning that their artworks are at risk of only being bought for expensive future resale. New auction house Greenhouse Auctions has created a business model to counter this widespread phenomenon.

This online art platform was founded by Shlomi Rabi, former head of photography sales at Phillips, New York, and former VP, head of photographs for the Americas at Christie's, to address the disparities in the auction art market. "Greenhouse Auctions sprouted in the midst of an economic avalanche, and its mission from day one has been to create an inclusive, inviting, safe space for those in the art world who are often left out," explains the website.

Greenhouse Auctions sales focus on small galleries and emerging artists, whose works are estimated under US$20,000 (HK$155,000). The main goal is to offer an affordable entry point to a new generation of art collectors, and to help upcoming artists whose markets are growing rapidly. The latter can directly sell their work through Greenhouse Auctions, alongside art dealers and gallery owners who want to reach new clients outside international art fairs.

"A lot of these artists are not necessarily household names," said Shlomi Rabi to The Art Market Monitor. "They may not have been at the big auction houses, but it's not because they are not at the calibre, it's simply because they haven't necessarily had the break, and this is what the platform is meant to do: It's exposure, visibility, empowerment, access."

[caption id="attachment_212661" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 'Time Table' by Shay Azoulay is one of the works to be auctioned during the 'Sourdough' sale on December 2 at Greenhouse Auctions. (Image: Greenhouse Auctions)[/caption]

Selling prices remaining confidential

One of its other unique features is that Greenhouse Auctions refuses to make public the final sale prices of works at auction, even though their estimates remain accessible. The policy is designed to discourage buyers who want to make a good return on their investment, while protecting artists from the possibility of seeing their market collapse if one of their works does not find a buyer.

"Auction houses are all about anonymity. Chances are that you won't know who's selling, or why they even bought that work of art a year ago if their intention was to flip it," the site outlines. It explains its difference in that "[b]uyers come [to us] to directly support artists, pursue exciting artwork in a fair and transparent model, and invest in the next generation of talent."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greenhouse Auctions (@greenhouseauctions)

Greenhouse Auctions will launch its first online sale today called "Sourdough". Fifteen works created during the pandemic by artists including Shai Azoulay, Molly A. Greene, T. Eliott Mansa, Nick Farhi, William Osorio and Tony Vazquez-Figueroa will be auctioned.

Sellers will keep 95 percent of the final price of their sold work, while collectors will pay a 20 percent buyer's premium. A part of the sellers fee will be donated to launch a new scholarship with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, benefiting Black colleges in the US.

(Main and featured image: Greenhouse Auctions)

The post This Auction House Wants You to Buy Art Because You Love it, Not For Investment appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Expert art collectors are well aware that the popularity of an emerging artist can skyrocket rapidly, meaning that their artworks are at risk of only being bought for expensive future resale. New auction house Greenhouse Auctions has created a business model to counter this widespread phenomenon.

This online art platform was founded by Shlomi Rabi, former head of photography sales at Phillips, New York, and former VP, head of photographs for the Americas at Christie's, to address the disparities in the auction art market. "Greenhouse Auctions sprouted in the midst of an economic avalanche, and its mission from day one has been to create an inclusive, inviting, safe space for those in the art world who are often left out," explains the website.

Greenhouse Auctions sales focus on small galleries and emerging artists, whose works are estimated under US$20,000 (HK$155,000). The main goal is to offer an affordable entry point to a new generation of art collectors, and to help upcoming artists whose markets are growing rapidly. The latter can directly sell their work through Greenhouse Auctions, alongside art dealers and gallery owners who want to reach new clients outside international art fairs.

"A lot of these artists are not necessarily household names," said Shlomi Rabi to The Art Market Monitor. "They may not have been at the big auction houses, but it's not because they are not at the calibre, it's simply because they haven't necessarily had the break, and this is what the platform is meant to do: It's exposure, visibility, empowerment, access."

[caption id="attachment_212661" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 'Time Table' by Shay Azoulay is one of the works to be auctioned during the 'Sourdough' sale on December 2 at Greenhouse Auctions. (Image: Greenhouse Auctions)[/caption]

Selling prices remaining confidential

One of its other unique features is that Greenhouse Auctions refuses to make public the final sale prices of works at auction, even though their estimates remain accessible. The policy is designed to discourage buyers who want to make a good return on their investment, while protecting artists from the possibility of seeing their market collapse if one of their works does not find a buyer.

"Auction houses are all about anonymity. Chances are that you won't know who's selling, or why they even bought that work of art a year ago if their intention was to flip it," the site outlines. It explains its difference in that "[b]uyers come [to us] to directly support artists, pursue exciting artwork in a fair and transparent model, and invest in the next generation of talent."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greenhouse Auctions (@greenhouseauctions)

Greenhouse Auctions will launch its first online sale today called "Sourdough". Fifteen works created during the pandemic by artists including Shai Azoulay, Molly A. Greene, T. Eliott Mansa, Nick Farhi, William Osorio and Tony Vazquez-Figueroa will be auctioned.

Sellers will keep 95 percent of the final price of their sold work, while collectors will pay a 20 percent buyer's premium. A part of the sellers fee will be donated to launch a new scholarship with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, benefiting Black colleges in the US.

(Main and featured image: Greenhouse Auctions)

The post This Auction House Wants You to Buy Art Because You Love it, Not For Investment appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The Swiss beauty house continues its support of art and culture with an exclusive and spellbinding art commission.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the field of art and culture, La Prairie has commissioned Swiss artist Douglas Mandry to create a series of images that capture the fragile beauty of his country’s natural landscapes.

The artist, who uses photography as a mechanism to question the reality of memory, technology and nature, takes photographs as his base material, reworking and manipulating them as well as combining them with new and non-traditional elements to create objects that exist as a new typology, and toe the line between flat and three-dimensional.

[caption id="attachment_212586" align="aligncenter" width="768"] La Prairie has commissioned Swiss artist Douglas Mandry to create a series of images that capture the fragile beauty of his country’s natural landscapes.[/caption]

For this project, Mandry first travelled through the country to capture still images of the wild, untamed lands. "After hours of walking, sometimes I just happen to be at a place which strikes me. Capturing this nature is for me a testimony of its sublime essence. Afterwards, I try to re-appropriate this untouched and unspoiled environment and make it my own. So, the whole process is about merging my experience of nature with my cultural background," he explains.

From these images, he distilled certain shapes and abstractions that he wishes to retain in the original, and then began to subvert and transform the surrounding elements – painting, airbrushing and otherwise interfering in a way that connotes the passage of time. When the series of images is displayed, it is in a non-linear narrative, taking viewers on a fantastical, surreal journey that is a blend of dreams and reality.

[gallery ids="212588,212589,212591,212593,212585,212587,212590,212592"]

This tribute to Swiss lands resonates well with La Prairie’s own quest to subvert time, and its tireless ideal of capturing a beauty that is timeless. This pursuit has been elevated to an art form, and in recognising this, La Prairie has sought to support artistic goals of many different forms, whether it is patronage of a global fair that can bring art to the masses, or supporting research into conservation of precious canvasses, so that historical works can be better preserved for the future generations. Three works created as a part of collaboration were also auctioned online at Artnet Auctions, with proceeds donated to ETH Foundation which contributes to research on glaciology and environmental conservation.

[gallery ids="212601,212595,212596,212597,212598,212599,212600"]

"Contemporary art is the prism through which we express our heritage and values and allows us to enrich our own story. As part of our ongoing relationship with art, we engage in creative dialogues with artists who bring their own perspective and artistic vocabulary to our brand. Indeed, artists are our storytellers,” says Greg Prodromides, Chief Marketing Officer of La Prairie Group.

“With this new initiative, we are extremely proud to be able - for the first time - to fuse our artistic engagement with our purpose as a Swiss luxury brand, committed to preserving the nature of our House’s origins.”

laprairie.com

The post La Prairie Commissions Artist Douglas Mandry to Create a Boundary-Crossing Series of Works appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The Swiss beauty house continues its support of art and culture with an exclusive and spellbinding art commission.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the field of art and culture, La Prairie has commissioned Swiss artist Douglas Mandry to create a series of images that capture the fragile beauty of his country’s natural landscapes.

The artist, who uses photography as a mechanism to question the reality of memory, technology and nature, takes photographs as his base material, reworking and manipulating them as well as combining them with new and non-traditional elements to create objects that exist as a new typology, and toe the line between flat and three-dimensional.

[caption id="attachment_212586" align="aligncenter" width="768"] La Prairie has commissioned Swiss artist Douglas Mandry to create a series of images that capture the fragile beauty of his country’s natural landscapes.[/caption]

For this project, Mandry first travelled through the country to capture still images of the wild, untamed lands. "After hours of walking, sometimes I just happen to be at a place which strikes me. Capturing this nature is for me a testimony of its sublime essence. Afterwards, I try to re-appropriate this untouched and unspoiled environment and make it my own. So, the whole process is about merging my experience of nature with my cultural background," he explains.

From these images, he distilled certain shapes and abstractions that he wishes to retain in the original, and then began to subvert and transform the surrounding elements – painting, airbrushing and otherwise interfering in a way that connotes the passage of time. When the series of images is displayed, it is in a non-linear narrative, taking viewers on a fantastical, surreal journey that is a blend of dreams and reality.

[gallery ids="212588,212589,212591,212593,212585,212587,212590,212592"]

This tribute to Swiss lands resonates well with La Prairie’s own quest to subvert time, and its tireless ideal of capturing a beauty that is timeless. This pursuit has been elevated to an art form, and in recognising this, La Prairie has sought to support artistic goals of many different forms, whether it is patronage of a global fair that can bring art to the masses, or supporting research into conservation of precious canvasses, so that historical works can be better preserved for the future generations. Three works created as a part of collaboration were also auctioned online at Artnet Auctions, with proceeds donated to ETH Foundation which contributes to research on glaciology and environmental conservation.

[gallery ids="212601,212595,212596,212597,212598,212599,212600"]

"Contemporary art is the prism through which we express our heritage and values and allows us to enrich our own story. As part of our ongoing relationship with art, we engage in creative dialogues with artists who bring their own perspective and artistic vocabulary to our brand. Indeed, artists are our storytellers,” says Greg Prodromides, Chief Marketing Officer of La Prairie Group.

“With this new initiative, we are extremely proud to be able - for the first time - to fuse our artistic engagement with our purpose as a Swiss luxury brand, committed to preserving the nature of our House’s origins.”

laprairie.com

The post La Prairie Commissions Artist Douglas Mandry to Create a Boundary-Crossing Series of Works appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Adapting is the name of the game.

With theatres and concert halls closed again in many global locations to stop the spread of Covid-19, artists are instead turning to livestreamed concerts to allow fans to enjoy their music in a new way.

These live performances, which may once have been free, are now vying to become a new revenue stream for the struggling industry. From Dua Lipa, Gorillaz and Jessie J to Liam Gallagher, Major Lazer and Metallica, all kinds of acts are getting in on the game, organising exclusive performances that music fans can watch live from the comfort of their homes. Many artists already tested the water during spring's lockdowns, although without investing too much in the production of these makeshift livestream performances.

Music fans may still remember a laid-back John Legend tinkling the ivories in a bathrobe, or Alessia Cara embarking on an acoustic set in her bathroom for the MTV "Unplugged at Home" series.

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A post shared by John Legend (@johnlegend)

After a few weeks of random and impromptu performances, these virtual gigs upped their game and started being streamed from more prestigious locations, such as London's Alexandra Palace, The Roxy club in Los Angeles and even the V&A Museum. Add high-quality lighting, multiple and varied camera angles, sometimes even special effects, and these once free concerts suddenly morphed into exclusive pay-per-view events.

The cost of technology

Ticket prices vary, although they're often around the US$15 (HK$116) mark. While Dua Lipa promised to take fans on a "kaleidoscope, rocket-filled, journey through time" to discover her latest album for US$15 to 20 on November 27, Billie Eilish charged up to US$30 for livestream tickets to her global virtual concert, "Where Do We Go? The Livestream," broadcast October 24 from Los Angeles. For their money, fans of the iconoclastic singer were given access to the livestream, and could rewatch for up to 24 hours, as well as enjoy reductions on merchandise.

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A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish)

But that's nothing compared to the US$100 (HK$775) tickets that fans of Jason Isbell snapped up in July to watch a live performance by the folk singer, followed by a Q&A session. The start-up Topeka even cashed in on the interactive experience by proposing a recorded version of Isbell's event for US$25.

At a time when livestreamed concerts are increasingly ubiquitous, music industry pros hope that the enthusiasm for virtual gigs will give a boost to the struggling sector, for which live shows and world tours are a key source of revenue. In fact, revenue from live music stood at some US$26 billion in 2017, according to data from Goldman Sachs, or 42% of turnover in the sector.

[caption id="attachment_212630" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Fans of folk singer Jason Isbell snapped up US100 tickets in July to watch his livestreamed performance. (Image: Jason Isbell/ Alysse Gakfyen/ Instagram)[/caption]

An increasingly diverse offer

But, as the music industry learned to its expense with the onset of streaming, it can be hard to convince consumers to pay for something they once got for free. Especially so in a highly competitive ecosystem where independent artists, concert production companies and tech giants are all vying for music fans' attention — and ideally their money.

On December 5, virtual gig-goers will have the choice between an online show by the band Evanescence, ahead of the release of their new album "The Bitter Truth," a virtual Darlene Love Christmas show, and a livestream performance by Liam Gallagher "Down by the River Thames" in London. It's a tough choice from a musical point of view.

[caption id="attachment_212627" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Rock band Evanescence will hold a livestreamed concert on December 5. (Image: Evanescence/ Facebook)[/caption]

As well as being spoiled for choice as the offer diversifies, certain music fans face the fear of not being tech savvy enough to enjoy livestream gigs. "A rock band with a slightly older audience, those audiences are less rabid from an online engagement perspective," Steve Bursky, the founder of Foundations Music told The New York Times. The management company's clients include Foy Vance, Young the Giant and Lauv.

Conscious of this concern, platforms and artists are reaching out with various tutorials and other explanations to get fans onboard. The aim is to invest in high-quality online gigs in order to bring livestreamed concerts and events into the mainstream. And it seems like these efforts are starting to bear fruit, since 28 percent of Americans said they would pay to watch an online concert, according to a report from Nielsen Music/MCR Data.

"Livestreaming is a new genre, a new form of entertainment. It is not ephemeral. People will doubt it -- but I believe that it will stay and be a complementary form of entertainment that will compete with playlists and videos and live shows," Fabrice Sergent, cofounder of Bandsintown, told Rolling Stone.

(Main image: Live Nation; Featured image: Dua Lipa/ Facebook)

The post Livestreamed Concerts are Fast Becoming the Norm in These Pandemic Times appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.