Amy Cappellazzo, Chairman, Post-War and Contemporary Development, Christie’s

【Related News】

Andy Warhol Museum announces Andy Warhol exhibition traveling throughout Asia

The Andy Warhol Museum announced its latest traveling exhibition Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal, opening March 17, 2012 at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.Following Singapore, the exhibition will then tour to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and finally Tokyo in 2014.The exhibition, sponsored by BNY Mellon and curated by The Warhol, chronicles the breadth of Warhol’s career and demonstrates the scope of his interests. [More Info]

As for this special tour exhibition, Artron.net had an interview with Amy Cappellazzo,the Chairman of Post-War and Contemporary Development, Christie's and Rick Armstrong,Communications Manager, The Andy Warhol Museum.

Artron.net: Why is this largest retrospective exhibition of Andy Warhol’s works toured throughout Asia instead of other regions? Why those 5 cities (Singapore/HK/BJ/SH/Tokyo)? Why Singapore as the first stop?

Rick Armstrong: The Andy Warhol Museum has numerous exhibitions traveling the world at any given time, including Europe.  At this time Portraits of Andy Warhol is in Zaragoza, Spain.  Two other exhibitions will open in Spain this summer. These cities represent the largest of the cultural capitals of Asia.  Singapore’s ArtScience Museum, planning a new facility expansion, approached The Warhol in 2009 interested in a large scale Warhol exhibition.  In addition, the venue expressed a cultural shift with the country’s youth interested in Western art and popular culture. Our dynamic partnership with BNY Mellon is a special one, which dates back to the museum’s creation in 1994. BNY Mellon was the first corporate sponsor of The Warhol’s dynamic Education Department. We worked with BNY Mellon on the construction of the tour and are delighted they supporting us in bringing this exciting exhibition to such a broad audience across Asia.

Artron.net: It is reported that the show is nominally educational rather than commercial, why Christie’s, as commercial auction house, is on board?

Amy Cappellazzo: We are grateful to The Warhol and lead sponsor BNY Mellon for allowing us to participate.  We are involved in many educational endeavors, and this is just another one. Sponsorship of exhibitions and public programs is part of what we do for our clients and to reinforcing our brand. This exhibition is a perfect fit since we are market share leaders in selling Andy Warhol's work and our passion for his work runs deep. To quote Andy Warhol himself, "Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art" and we are proud to live up to his notion of success.
 

Artron.net: What do you think of the market performance of Andy Warhol’s works in China in future?

Amy Cappellazzo:Andy loved China when he visited in 1982. If he were still alive, I am sure he would be ever more enamored with China today. My business instincts tell me the Chinese will love Warhol in the same way...

Artron.net: Would any of the AW exhibits in this tour appear in Christie’s PWC auctions in 2012?

Amy Cappellazzo: No, these works in the exhibition are owned by The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and are not for sale. But if we are lucky, we may have a few similar examples, either at auction or for private sale.

Artron.net:  In general, what role could the art exhibitions play on the auctions？

Amy Cappellazzo: Great exhibitions help collectors understand an artist's creative output and help them imagine what is possible in the field of collecting. The show could inspire more buyers for Warhol’s work. The ecosystem of the art world is healthy and interdependent, so other connections between exhibitions and auctions surely exist. For example, we strive to have our viewings look like great museum exhibitions.

Artron.net: In addition to this AW Asia tour during 2012-2014, does Christie's plan to sponsor any other global art exhibitions in future?

Amy Cappellazzo: Yes. For example: “Being Singular Plural” at the Guggenheim NY (its contemporary Indian film/video art exhibition), Opens 3/1/12