Sarah Thorton went to Art Basel for The Economist and discovered a little bit of grousing about the homogenizing nature of the international art market:
To be a good bet against near-zero interest rates and unpredictable currency fluctuations, art needs the potential of a global market. Thus, “local artist” has become a synonym for insignificant artist and “national” damns with faint praise. “International” is now a selling point in itself. […]
As Lucy Mitchell-Innes of Mitchell-Innes & Nash, a New York gallery, warns: “It’s a problem if four or five booths have the same artist’s work. A good international fair wants Chinese galleries to bring talented Chinese artists, not another Anthony Gormley.”
Global Frameworks (The Economist)
