As is known to the public, over the last decade, the Union of Estonian Artists has sold works belonging to its fund to three art collectors and businessmen, Enn Kunila, Margus Linnamäe and Sven Pertens. Pertens also confirmed the art purchases from the artists’ union (see also the interview below).
“The Union of Artists was formed mainly in the 70s and 80s. Those were good times, when a lot of money was moving in the field of art. Later the group returned under the wing of the Union of Artists. L The Union has the role and responsibility of guaranteeing working and creative conditions for more than 200 artists. Our houses are a very difficult rebellion, the youngest of these was built 60 years ago. This is also the reason [kunsti müügiks], because there is no external support to rely on. We tried to find a golden middle ground,” said Vano Allsalu, vice president of the Artists’ Union, who was also on the union’s board at the time of the sale of the works.
According to Allsalu, the works sold are now more accessible to the public than they would have been if they had remained in the SA Kunstitaristu fund. “They are better kept and in good condition. There are really no losers in this game,” Allsalu said.
The association does not currently actively sell works of art from its collection.
“The sales date back to several years ago. In recent years the funds obtained from these sales have been used: we see it in the ARS building, but also in the Hobusepea gallery. There are no projects [kunsti lisaks müüa], we do it as little as possible and as little as necessary. We are not trying to sell these works at any price,” Allsalu said.
According to Allsalu, the union preferred recognized collectors so that the works remained in Estonia and were not dispersed. “These works will appear in exhibitions. It depends on the modesty or vanity of the collector, whether he wants to see his name there,” Allsalu said. He declined to mention which works were sold and for what price, citing the confidentiality of the sales transaction.
From the report for the 2020 financial year it emerges that there was an increase compared to 2019 about SA Kunstitaristu’s working capital decreased by two million, while fixed assets decreased by a similar amount. Since the tangible assets of Art Infrastructure are works of art, it can be concluded that they were sold for two million euros. In 2019, the union’s head, Elin Kard, said 75 works were sold.
According to Allsalu, two million is the correct amount received for the sale.
Public opinion wondered whether a fair price could still be obtained by selling the works through direct bidding: perhaps the profit from the artists’ union would have been greater if the works had been sold, for example, at auction.
“The great excitement and price increase has lasted for a year, two years at most. Our works were evaluated in 2018-2019. In recent years, when there has been a strong increase in prices, we have not sold any operates. If the prices increase, we will have to make corrections in the future as well. I can confirm that no discounts have been given to any buyers,” Allsalu added.
Auctioneer: Direct selling has created a sense of injustice
“On the one hand, I think they had their reasons for making such decisions. According to current public information, the works were sold to collectors who have an extreme sense of mission in art, they make catalogs and exhibit. This “It was important for the artists’ union. At the same time it was a decision that was a little too cautious and did not take into account the general picture of the market”, said Piia Ausman, gallery owner and auctioneer of the Haus.
According to him, there are definitely more than three collectors on the Estonian market. “If the works had been auctioned, this would have given a fairer opportunity to more people. The problem rose to the surface: why some can buy and why others cannot. The fact that such feelings arise is also an example of the fact that the art market has become active and the market context is much more vibrant and broader than it was a few years ago,” Ausman said.
“This lets the buyers know that I would also like a piece of this work and that I would be willing to sign conditions so that these works could be obtained by me for public exhibitions in the future. The Haus gallery also mapped out all of our purchases on “At different times and we know where the purchases ended up. Buyers have been willing to give them away for exhibitions,” Ausman added.
SA Kunstitaristu was founded by the Union of Estonian Artists on November 24, 2016. The main goal of the foundation is to create better working, creative and presentation conditions for artists, researchers and art practitioners.
With the notarized division agreement concluded in 2017, the art collection available to the Tallinn Art Gallery Foundation – painting, graphics, sculpture, consumer art – was transferred to the Kunstitaristu foundation.
Sven Pertens: Auctioning involves a commission
Have you purchased works from SA Kunstitaristut after 2019?
Yes, to a small extent also at the beginning of 2020 and 2021.
Which works did you purchase from SA Kunstitaristut and how many? For example, did you buy Arrak or Sarapuu?
Unfortunately, as the contracts are confidential, we cannot go into detail. I can say that the prices set by the artistic evaluation committee for the paintings of Arrak and Sarapuu seemed higher than market prices in the context of that time, that is, it was possible to purchase the works of these artists at cheaper prices from galleries or directly from the authors of those years.
Do you remember what was the argument of the representatives of the Artists’ Union who made the offer to you at that time?
Unfortunately I don’t remember exactly under what circumstances such an opportunity arose, it could also have been completely random, for example meeting representatives of the Artists’ Union at the opening of some exhibition. But there were several arguments: first of all, they wanted to sell to well-known large art collectors who have the necessary storage conditions and are ready to lend the acquired works for future exhibitions. One reason was that enough works would be found in private collections themselves, which, according to the Artists’ Union, would make it easier to borrow works for exhibition. The reason why the idea of selling the works to private individuals arose in the first place was the need to repair the SA Art Infrastructure buildings – at least that’s what they were called to me, and by now these buildings have been repaired.
In your opinion, did the direct auction of the artists’ union allow you to purchase works of art at a lower price than, for example, at an auction?
In my personal opinion, no, if you look at the selling prices of art in galleries and auctions in the same years that SA Kunstitaristu was selling these works. Of course, it is always difficult to predict the outcome of the auction, and in the case of some works, the price rises unexpectedly, while others remain unsold even at a very reasonable initial price level, which is not good from an economic point of view. point of view of the possible future sale of the work, because the so-called negative reference. From SA Kunstitaristu’s point of view, selling works at auction (through some art galleries) also means that the potential buyer would have to be willing to pay 40-50 percent more than the ownership share of the desired work by SA Kunstitaristu – this has been the usual commission of art galleries.
It is certainly not correct to compare the sales prices of the works in the years in which SA Kunstitaristu sold these works with the current auction prices, which have caused great confusion in the last two years both among collectors and art galleries and among the general public . Over these few years, inflation has remained extremely high in several Estonias to boot– the money from the sale of the company goes not only into the real estate sector, but also into the art market and certainly into many other influences that no one could have foreseen.
Does your art collection have a curator or do you select the works yourself?
My art collection does not have a direct curator and I mainly base it on my personal choices and preferences, obviously also on financial possibilities. Of course, from time to time I consult with various art scholars, gallery owners and even other art collectors.
2023-12-19 15:10:00
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