Nowadays it may seem like almost a given for artworks to be sold online. It's the new era and you've got to get on that bandwagon, right? Yet this concept is relatively new, and its terms and margins are still developing every day.
There are intrinsic difficulties of selling art, which is neither a commodity or a service familiar in the traditional consumer market. In fact, it is in opposition to the foundations of artwork valuation. The art market is elusive and shrouded in mystery—it is not made public how deals are made, at how much or to whom. Trade is kept hushed in order to inflate artwork prices through the information gap. Getting in those auction rooms are for the privileged few who know the right people. Obtaining insider information is another level of secrets altogether. Artworks amongst these ranks are valued for their exclusivity and rarity, thus we see works from the men of the past with the highest estimations.
The internet does not fit in well with all of this. Its highlights on democratization and inclusivity clashes with the art market, and those who wish to participate in it someday. Yet, times are changing fast, and the people are making different choices. Artists themselves are caught in between the dichotomy of having to promote themselves effectively to garner greater attention yet are burnt by the copyright infringements and limited protection on the webs. As all new technologies are, things are imperfect and resisted in the beginning. However, the art market is inevitably evolving—and I always say it's better to jump on board and learn to stay afloat before you are washed out.
There are many platforms being made to accommodate new generations of artists who have previously been oblivious to the politics and mechanics of the art world. Furthermore, these platforms are transforming the structured institutions and the way the general public perceives and receives the arts. Take, for example, Christie's auction house, which shut down its branches in London and Amsterdam and refocused on growing its online art presence. It is a practical and inevitable move as rental prices continue souring in these major hubs. Art sales in galleries are dropping while online growth is on a steady rise. Name brand museums and galleries are unlikely to go out of business any time soon, but visiting rates are dwindling. However, this is urging them to try new approaches to become more inclusive of all communities. Case in point: The filming of Beyoncé’s music video in the Louvre. As the market continues to advance, old regimes are reconstructed and may allow for some positive side effects. Now, looking and pondering about art is as easy as swiping the screen.
Even what has been said so far is already established fact. Art and technology are the new rage as the market continues to evolve into a new era of the world. Blockchain is entering the art market and is perhaps its timely future. It makes sense – the technology strips away the boundaries and allows art to be a common good. It allows endless opportunities such as shared ownership, which means that the world's greatest pieces cannot be bought and hidden by a single collector. It means the reduction of mediocre intermediaries who cannot keep up with the tide. The market belongs to the flexible and the visionary, who are willing to shed old habits to get ahead. Art and tech will assure you that the works you invest in are good choices, and it will recommend similar artworks in the similar theme. It will tell you what's next and who's buying what and make art more accessible to previously neglected markets.
On that note, BBuzzArt is an online art platform that constantly strives to be the pioneer of new art market technologies. While other art markets focus on either sales or articles, BBuzzArt focuses on the needs of its artists as well as the buyers by merging the networking platform with the sales. The team ensures quality to reduce insecurities that new sellers and buyers may have every step of the way. It makes your type of art easily accessible and deducible by categorizing according to price, color, style, medium or theme. The art company hosts offline shows around the world, drawing in new participants yearly. BBuzzArt also offers the BBuzzCanvas, a glare-proof picture frame showing curated works of artists, now operable with Google’s Alexa. The future of a company relies on its reception to innovation and how quickly it can make its vision actionable. With the motto, “buzzing art, budding artists,” join the company that is catching two birds with one stone at www.bbuzzart.com!