Katya Kazakina has a story on Bloomberg about Don and Mera Rubell, the influential Miami collectors and part-time real estate developers, who are getting way out ahead of this year’s ArtBasel Miami Beach by announcing their show for the event will be based on their interest in Chinese Contemporary art:

“There’s a new generation of Chinese artists that is interesting to us,” said Mera Rubell in a telephone interview. “They have the world view and they are also dealing with the transformation of China itself.” […]

The Rubells, who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year, have been collecting emerging art for decades. They bought their first photograph by Cindy Sherman for $25 and paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat for $2,500. They are known for their trend-setting exhibitions, such as those focusing on Leipzig, Polish or black artists in the past decade.

“It’s a vote of confidence,” said Larry Warsh, New York- based collector of Chinese contemporary art. “It’s important that collectors like the Rubells pave the way in understanding Chinese art in the context of global contemporary art.”

The Rubells visited China six times in the past 12 years. With their last trip, in the fall of 2012, taking in more than 40 artist studios in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou and Hangzhou.

“We took planes, trains, vans,” said Mera Rubell. “It was like a caravan.”

Miami Collectors Tap New China Artists for Art Basel Show (Bloomberg)