A Conversation Between Denis Khimilyaine and Dmitry Gutov. Can You Make Money from Poverty? The Market as an Illusion: Investing in Art

Can Russian contemporary art be considered an investment today? Why is a Russian artist often valued at a fraction of the price of a comparable Western artist—is the artist undervalued, or is that simply their actual market value? What needs to happen for an artist’s prices to rise? And, most importantly, if they do rise, who will buy the work afterwards?

The participants will discuss what determines the value of a work of art, whether it is possible today to predict which artists will stand the test of time, why being a good artist does not necessarily make someone a good investment, and what makes more sense to buy for the same amount of money: work by a young and fashionable artist or by an established artist who is no longer at the centre of current attention.

Participants:

Denis Khimilyaine, collector

Dmitry Gutov, artist and art theorist