The Business of Art | Economist Conferences Asia

June 6th 2012

ArtScience Museum, Singapore

Asia's largest ever Andy Warhol exhibition, Andy Warhol: 15 minutes Eternal is now touring Singapore and Hong Kong. Curated by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the exhibit features 300 works by the hugely influential artist.

In the early 1970s Andy Warhol famously said, “Good business is the best art.” Art has long been a business but the art world is often suspicious of artists who appear motivated primarily by profit. What is the delicate balance between artist and commerce? The market is not simply about buying and selling, it is an important media platform. Can an artist build a legacy today without successful sales? And how important is fame? Working in series is often a good way for an artist’s work to become internationally recognisable and feed global demand. Is there an ideal number of works when it comes to sales and credibility?

The Economist will host an exclusive evening with art-enthused readers of The Economist and Intelligent Life to examine the issues raised by the life and work of Andy Warhol. The event will include a briefing on Asia’s art market from The Economist and a panel discussion with contemporary-art experts: Sarah Thornton, Eric Shiner and Eric Chang. Guests will also be given a guided tour of the exhibition, led by a curator from The Andy Warhol Museum.

BY INVITATION ONLY - An audience of 80-100 C-level executives and readers of The Economist will be invited to attend this exclusive gathering, along with key members of the media.

4:30 pm	Registration
5:00 pm	Where will the Asian art market go? A view from The Economist The Asian art market has been booming over the last decade, weathering well the 2008–09 financial crisis. With an increasing number of new galleries, museums and high-net-worth individuals, everyone is eyeing the art market for opportunities. How resilient would the market prove if the global economy went into another recession? What will be the driving forces in the art market over the next ten years? Will an international art centre be established in Asia, competing with New York and Paris? How will the Asian art market influence the global art market? Alex Travelli, Hong Kong Bureau Chief, The Economist
5:10 pm	Panel Discussion - Good business is the best art In the early 1970s, Andy Warhol said famously, "Good business is the best art." Art has long been a business, but the art world is often suspicious of artists who appear motivated primarily by profit. What are the positive and negative relationships between artists and commerce? The market is not simply about buying and selling, it is an important media platform. Can an artist build a legacy today without successful sales? How important is fame? Working in series is often a good way for an artist's work to become internationally recognisable and feed global demand; is there an ideal number of works when it comes to sales and credibility? Chairperson: Sarah Thornton, Chief Writer on Contemporary Art, The Economist Panellists: Eric Shiner, Director, The Andy Warhol Museum Eric Chan, Senior Vice President, Christie’s
6:10 pm	Guided tour of Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal Eric Shiner, Director, The Andy Warhol Museum

Sarah Thornton, Chief Writer on Contemporary art, The Economist

Sarah Thornton is the author of Seven Days in the Art World, a funny series of non-fiction narratives, which explore the art market and the institutions that contribute to an artist’s place in art history.

Alex Travelli, Hong Kong Bureau Chief, The Economist

Alex Travelli is Hong Kong bureau chief for The Economist

Eric Chang, Senior Vice President; International Director, Asian 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Christie’s

Eric C. Shiner, Director, The Andy Warhol Museum

Eric C. Shiner is the Director of The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. Since joining the museum in 2008, Shiner has organized large-scale exhibitions and secured a dynamic roster of shows through the summer of 2014.

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