Trade War? Trade More, Say the Hip Western Art Dealers at Condo Shanghai

Artnet: Naomi Rea & Eileen Kinsella

The US and China are on the verge of a trade war. On Wednesday, President Trump suggested raising a proposed tariff on Chinese goods—including art and antiques—from 10 percent to 25 percent. But within China, a small coterie of Western dealers are taking the opposite route and swapping protectionism for collaboration. Since July 7, 13 dealers have set up shop inside nine galleries to sell their wares for the first edition of the gallery-share initiative Condo in Shanghai, which closes August 26.

Vanessa Carlos, the art dealer who launched the Condo complex in London back in January 2016, tells artnet News that Shanghai was “an obvious choice” for Condo in Asia. While it has a vibrant art scene and ample audience of curators, collectors, and gallery-goers, its art market is at an earlier stage and less frenetic than that of Hong Kong. …Read More

Pictured: Jennifer Steinkamp’s Impeach, China (2018). © Jennifer Steinkamp, courtesy of greengrassi, London.