07/02/2002

From the 6th of February to the 8th of February, the contemporary art collectors’ attention will be on London, where Christie’s and Sotheby’s contend the market for the latest trends. The first session of the Contemporary Art sale held by Christie’s on the evening of the 6th of February totalled $3,164,303 (€3.6 million) selling 72% by lot and setting a double record with the photograph Untitled V by Andreas Gursky. The image, sold for $611,909 (€706,490), set a record for the artist and, at the same time, is the most expensive photograph ever auctioned. Next in the London auction calendar is Sotheby’s evening sale on the 7th of February. The most awaited lot is the photo realist work by Gerhard Richter, Mailand: Dom (estimate $2.5-3.5 million, €2.9-4 million).The contemporary art sales will end on the 8th of February with two further auctions: a morning sale (10.30 a.m.) at Sotheby’s (to be noted a pair of cibachromes by Hellen Van Meene estimated at $4,200-5,600, €4,800-6,500) and an afternoon sale (2 p.m.) at Christie’s (among the lots on offer is a print by Shirin Neshat from the Rapture (Women showing hands) series estimated at $21,100-28,100, €24,400-32,500). (Elena Balzani)