Issue 2 (14) 2020

Economy

Castello di Ama ◦ Massimo de Carlo ◦ Ettore Molinario ◦ Nedko Solakov ◦ and more

Cover designed by Nedko Solakov

Nowadays when a pandemic is reigning in the world, we are daily at the centre of news about the economy and the financial crisis, the need for special measures, aid and social benefits to provide security. However, all of these terms have been constant elements of the cultural sphere for many decades, regardless of country, government or public awareness. There is no cure for this type of disease. Strange, given all the reports about creative industries as the driving force behind global innovation. For this reason, we have decided to dedicate this issue of Contemporary Lynx Magazine to the economy of the art world.

In the magazine, you will find stories that matter and will stay with you for a long time. You will have the opportunity to read a conversation with the art market economist Magnus Resch, which explains if buying art is a wise financial decision during times of crisis. We also invite you to look into the exquisite, well-considered art collections of Castello di Ama and Ettore Molinario. For interested in establishing or working at a gallery, we have prepared an interview with Massimo De Carlo, the founder of a mega gallery bearing his name.

In the section ‘Artists’ you can go deeper into an overview of Magdalena Abakanowicz‘s artistic practice, check out the series by Stanislav Břiza, Czech photographer, depicting gentrification at Hackney Wick, London. You will also take a look at the studio of Mateusz Choróbski, whose work often reaches the poverty line in Poland, and get a closer look at the artistic practice of Simon Denny, who explores the world of new technologies, Bitcoin and the economy.

In the sections ‘ECONOMY / The Changing Face of the Art Worlds’ and ‘Collecting’, you will have the opportunity to read essays on the state of the art and auction markets. The work and figure of Nedko Solakov, who designed our cover, is the beginning and end of this issue. You will find an interview with this Bulgarian artist, who combines traditional forms of expression with conceptual practices, dark humour, keen understanding and commentary on the surrounding reality.

7 EDITORS’ LETTER

8 CONTRIBUTORS

11 MAPPING OUR ARTICLES

12 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ARTISTS / Close-up

18 Nedko Solakov. There Is Writing on These Walls

28 Simon Denny. A Snapshot of Ideology

36 Stanislav Bříza. The Rich Wick

44 Mateusz Choróbski. For Your Eyes Only

50 Magdalena Abakanowicz. Special Feature

60 Construction in Process

ECONOMY / The Changing Face of the Art World

62 The Undaunted Art Market. Overcoming Adversity Through Innovation

70 This Is So Good You Wouldn’t Know It Was Done by a Woman

76 Glitch and Glamour. On Blockbuster Exhibitions

82 That Painting Costs as Much as My House. Why Contemporary Art Is So Expensive

84 Invisible People. Visual Story

TREND-SPOTTING / New Culture Codes

98 The Impact of Vitra on the Design Landscape

104 Objects of Desire

106 Degrowth Won’t Happen But Here’s Why the Art World Should Be Talking About It

108 Why Is Fashion Turning to Craft?

120 Telling Stories through Photography. A Conversation with Marek Świca

122 The Greatest Heist

129 Vanity Pair. Art and Money on Film

MIND THE MAP

133 Kyiv. Find Yourself in Its Chaotic Charm

COLLECTING / Treasure Hunt

144 Lorenza Sebasti. We Owe Everything to the Land — The Castello di Ama Collection

150 Gender Identity. A Voyage Through the Ettore Molinario Collection

154 Massimo De Carlo. Embrace the Future

160 Magnus Resch. The Social Aspect of the Art World

166 The Price Is Right. The Lucrative Financialisation of Contemporary Art

170 Economic Survival in the Art World

180 On Our Shelf

Contributors:

  • Mannika Mishra,
  • Aleksandra Mainka-Pawłowska,
  • Yasmine Akim,
  • Dobromiła Błaszczyk,
  • Anna Dziuba,
  • Patrycja Głusiec,
  • Oli Gudgeon,
  • Amanda Jamieson,
  • Patrycja Rozwora,
  • Sylwia Krasoń,
  • Maja Lorkowska,
  • Alex Mirutziu,
  • Mannika Mishra,
  • Dobrosława Nowak,
  • Grażyna Siedlecka,
  • Karol Szafraniec,
  • Mikołaj Jazdoń,
  • Anna Tomczak,
  • Oli Gudgeon,
  • Marek Wołyński,
  • Vera Zborovska,
  • Kuba Żary,
  • Tseleng Tshabalala,
  • Adrian Balcau.

Illustrations:

  • Marta Krysińska

LYNX Team:

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