The Art Newspaper notes the impact that the soaring price of the Swiss Franc has had on the market at Art Basel this year, pushing Switzerland’s high prices even higher, with prices about 15% higher than last year as a result. “Even the bratwurst is unaffordable,” jokes Andreas Gegner of Sprüth Magers. (more…)
A new British £20 note has been announced this week, and this time, a creative figure from British history will replace economist Adam Smith, the New York Times reports. “Banknotes are the principal way the Bank of England engages with the British public,”Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England. “These sparse pieces of paper from the 17th century have developed over the years to become the small works of art that are in everyone’s wallets. There are a wealth of individuals within the field of visual arts whose work shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society and who continue to inspire people today.” (more…)
Isa Genzken, Geldbild I (2014)
Referred to as “one of the most important and influential female artists of the past 30 years” by MoMA on the occasion of her retrospective at the museum in 2013, Isa Genzken‘s new work is the subject of Hauser &Wirth’s current solo exhibition in London. Less known in the States compared to her artistic influence and recognition in Europe, Genzken has pursued a notably progressive career in the recent decade, building new bodies of work and showing in various international venues. (more…)
The MAK Vienna has purchased artist Harm van den Dorpel’s Event Listeners screen-saver work with Bitcoins, making it the first museum in the world to use the digitally-centered currency. The work will be shown at this year’s inaugural Vienna Biennale, running June 11 to October 4. (more…)
Bloomberg takes a look at the current state of the Euro, and its effects on the series of auctions currently taking place in London, considering the ongoing economic crises from a variety of perspectives. “The euro is just killing Europe, but it’s killing Italy more than anything else,” says dealer Otto Naumann says. “I haven’t seen any Italian collectors buying anything.” (more…)