Anyone who is involved in the visual art world has seen great changes in the way creations are made, disseminated and traded over the recent years. But what are the reasons? What are the factors that have made this quick, unstoppable and possibly irreversible change? Many speak of causes such as the surge of social media and the growth of e-commerce during the pandemic, while others relate it to financial issues around the world due to war and the development of the Asian art market over the American.
After the pandemic, the art market that we knew struggled to survive. Virtually all art fairs reduced their size, as new galleries and proposals entered the scene. In turn, galleries also downsized or simply stopped attending the mega events of the trade world due to the large cost involved and the low return on investment. If we think about it, the value of the stands, transportation of artworks, accommodation and food costs, support staff, marketing, and many others create endless expenses to participate in a space where sales can never come. What is happening to the world of art trade?
Galleries and taking on new formats. Many have made the hard decision to close their physical spaces to bet on direct sales to their clients, taking them to artist studios and partnering up with other galleries to share exhibition spaces, or even jumping to online sales. This change has affected great and iconic art fairs. Some galleries have partnered to compete with fairs through smaller investments, better returns, or just because of the versatility this format allows in terms of dates and locations.
It is evident we are undergoing a marked transition period. The advent of new technologies and the impact of social media has changed the way we understood trade; we can see this at every level. Without a question, these debates and questions should be part of the theme and discussions to hit the streets of Miami this year during the week Art Basel is on, as well as those of Spain in 2025 when the acclaimed Art Madrid takes place. We hope that expert panels address these new issues to see what path the art market will take, and how we can support each other through these new challenges.
Some of the changes and transitions that the world is experiencing are featured in the pages of this issue. You will find reflections on war in José Manuel Ciria’s work, the importance of nature in Ángela Copello’s, and the history of humanity in the works of Carlos Castro Arias, Rodolfo Oviedo and Mostapha Romli.
