Edutainment > Rising Prices for Chinese Art Prints

Flower Age No. 2
copyright Zhang Biao

December 2007: We want to inform our clients that the prices for modern Chinese art prints have partly risen considerably during the second half of 2007, and will in our view continue to go up in 2008. The rise may even be considerable in 2008. This article keeps you updated about the current price level of several artists that we have offered in the past. We can no longer offer some of these artists - because the prices have become too high, or because the artists have concluded exclusive contracts with galleries in Beijing or Shanghai. Or the artists simply do not consign/sell to us anymore because they can get better prices on the Chinese market.

Why are Prices for Chinese Art Prints Going Up?

You may have read in the press about spectacular auction record sales at Sothebys or Christies and other international auction houses for contemporary Chinese art. The latest record stands at USD 4.96 million for a painting by Zhang Xiaogang titled Family Portrait. These mind-boggling results are achieved in Hong Kong and New York. Starting in 2008, auction houses like Sothebys and Christies will to our knowledge be allowed to open branches in mainland China.

Modern Chinese art prints did not have a commercial market for years - not in China and not outside of China. The development of the art market for contemporary Chinese prints has not been parallel to the development of the market for paintings and sculptures. First of all, this market seems to develop with a time-lag. And secondly, it is not the demand from Western countries that now drives up prices. The major demand comes from the Chinese market itself. More and more Chinese collect art prints. Many believe that it is a very good investment.

Artists and Prices

Here are a few examples of artists whose works we have offered to you. We try to find a balance. But some of them have now become so expensive that we think we cannot sell them to you anymore for these prices. And as long as these artist can sell their art works easily on the Chinese art market, they will not consign to artelino either.

Others have been discovered by art galleries after spectacular succcesses in artelino's art auctions and have concluded exclusive contracts like Liu Panwu.

Li Yanpeng, born 1958

Dig Potatoes
copyright Li Yanpeng

This year, Mr. Li Yanpeng raised the prices for his reduction woodblock prints to three times of the price we could get in 2006. Mr. Li Yanpeng has become the president of Hebei Art Institute this year. Demand for his art prints from Hebei province has raised a lot. The price marked in local galleries is about 1,000 USD. artelino used to offer his prints for reserves of USD 380 and USD 480.

Currently our art agent does not buy his prints any longer. We are afraid that our clients will not be willing to pay prices of USD 1,000 and more. We do not have any Li Yanpeng art works on stock. If you are willing to acquire prints by Li Yanpeng for this price level, we can arrange this for you, of course.

Liu Panwu, born 1984

Asking for Flowers No. 3
copyright Liu Panwu

Liu Panwu was a young and very promising graduate from Tianjin Fine Arts Academy when our Chinese art agent discovered him only a few months ago. His etchings from the series Asking for Flowers and Young Living were a blockbuster in artelino's auctions for less than two months. We lost this young artist because a Beijing gallery bought all his print works including those that he will produce in the coming three years.

Luo Guirong, born 1962

Life - Gone with the Wind
copyright Luo Guirong

Art prints by Luo Guirong are very difficult to get. Some Beijing and Shanghai galleries apportioned all his new creations. Luo Guirong won an outstanding award at the 18th National Printmaking Exhibition of China in Shanghai October of 2007. This made his prices more expensive of course.

Xiong Xiqiu, born 1979

Cosmo Girl No. 3
copyright Xiong Xiqiu

Xiong Xiqiu is a young female artist from Sichuan Art Academy. She creates fascinating silkscreens in a kind of Chinese pop art style - in our view poignant life style documents of the young Chinese generation unencumbered by any memories of the recent Chinese history under Mao Zedong and such events like the Cultural Revolution.

As our art agent had told us, Xiong Xiqiu doubled the prices of her new creations. Almost all of her prints were sold out in one Hong Kong gallery. And furthermore the artist had told us that this gallery plans to buy all her creations in the coming year 2008.

Yu Chengyou, born 1953

Home
copyright Yu Chengyou

Yu Chengyou doubled the prices because one of his prints won a prize in the 18th National Print Exhibition. And some local galleries buy all his available prints of certain designs.

Zhang Biao, born 1971

Growing up - Fang Fang
copyright Zhang Biao

Mr. Zhang Biao doubled the price for his etching "Fang Fang - Growing Up" compared to the first design of "Fang Fang". "Fang Fang - Growing Up" had won the outstanding prize of the 18th National Print Exhibition. And the artist can choose among more and more cooperative galleries who want to sell his art works.

Chen Yuping, born 1947

copyright Chen Yuping

Chen Yuping raised the prices for most of his prints by 100-150 USD. His art prints have recently sold very well in Japan. Exhibitions with cooperative galleries in Japan and overseas resulted in good sales for him. Many of the old designs are now running out. His age and the regular acceptance and his prizes at the national Chinese art exhibitions will make his prints more expensive by tendancy.

Cheng Guangyong, born 1973

copyright Cheng Guangyong

In June of 2007 we had to retract all art prints not yet sold or offered from our art auctions on request of the artist, Mr. Cheng Guangyong. He was afraid that the lower prices on artelino might have a negative influence on the prices of his works in the Chinese market.

Dieter Wanczura in early December 2007

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