FIAC Contemporary Art Fair: Galleries from over 30 countries converge in Paris

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Europe

02:19

The ongoing FIAC contemporary art fair in Paris is one of the world's biggest art shows. But until recently, it's largely shown works from only European galleries. Organizers are now keen to change that, and this year they've invited four Chinese galleries for the first time, as the international market for Chinese art grows. Elena Casas reports from the fair.

The FIAC contemporary art fair brings galleries from over 30 countries to Paris. Organisers say they're keen to attract more exhibitors from China - this year, there are four, including Magician Space from Beijing, who are showing here for the first time.

QU KEJIE, DIRECTORMAGICIAN SPACE GALLERY "From what I can see there are more and more European collectors interested in Chinese art and artists, we've seen more and more people interested in our work here."

The gallery says buyers are increasingly willing to take a risk on little-known contemporary artists.

ELENA CASASPARIS "The global market for Chinese art was worth 7 billion dollars last year. The majority of that was sold to Chinese buyers in China - but European collectors are getting in on the act."

Just 8 per cent of Chinese art was sold to European buyers in 2017. The Asia Now art fair in Paris was founded partly to change that - and educate collectors abroad about the Chinese scene. It brings together 42 galleries from across Asia.

ALEXANDRA FAIN DIRECTOR OF THE ASIA NOW FAIR "The main interest is that we know less than we think, lots of these artists are under the radar - I love the FIAC, and I think we complement that, but they have less than five galleries invited from Asia, and the artists they'll be showing are already blockbusters."

But for Chinese art galleries, the real money is still to be made in China, the world's second biggest art market - sales there made up 23 per cent of the global market for contemporary art last year, almost as much as the whole of Europe, and most of that was spent on local artists. Elena Casas, CGTN, Paris.