At first glance, it looks like an art exhibition full of canvases to see and see through, but our focus is on the market, power, and money. Art goes far beyond mere aesthetics, which is why the spotlight of the special exhibition is on the financial side of the art market.
A lot of money flows in the art market; sometimes considerable sums are involved. Art has to do with money on various levels: for example, as an investment vehicle for private investors, as an investment for collections or museums. While art has increasingly become an attractive investment in recent years, it has always been clear to collectors that art has value - both material and immaterial. This does not necessarily correspond to the price of art.
This exhibition aims at casting a light on the various ways in which art and finance are intertwined, including the development of these interrelations – particularly when it comes to paintings. It will show what roles the players on the market are cast in, what parallels there are to the stock market and how art influences the economy and vice versa. The exhibition also takes a look at important trends of recent years (including the digitalization and tokenization of the market) and addresses the darker side of the art market.
Historical securities are also part of the exhibition. Four players in the art market are represented as well as art on shares. Here, for example, the share of the ceramics manufacturer Fabrica de Faiançãs das Caldas da Rainha, which was designed in Portuguese Art Nouveau style, or the share of the Harpen mining company, which was designed by a representative of the Düsseldorf School of Painting.
But the art market also has a dark side: Compared to the financial market, which is much more regulated, it is more likely to be subject to criticism for tax evasion and money laundering. The exhibition also deals with this.