Sometimes, when an art dealer tells a story, it is hard to believe that the tale is just not too conveniently perfect to be true. Here’s one from Nicholas Logsdail of Lisson Gallery—retailed to the Wall Street Journal Europe—that just seems over-the-top in setting the worldly-wise dealer up to gently shepherd his new collectors to enlightenment:
Often, I visit collectors at their houses, both out of interest, friendship and often seeking advice. I had a recent Sunday invitation for lunch from new collectors, to talk about a new work they had acquired and approve their hanging. It goes without saying that building relationships with collectors in visits such as this is a very important element of my work, and one which I often enjoy.
I was given a very warm welcome, but the first thing I noticed was that the work in question was hung upside down. It was a situation that could have potentially been very embarrassing for the collectors, and it took me half an hour to see how this error could be communicated with good humor, turning it into a joke and not making them feel humiliated. Everyone has to learn, and the great thing about contemporary art is that we are all in the process of learning and accumulating more knowledge.
Life Is Anything But Still for Nicholas Logsdail (Wall Street Journal)
