High-end collectors were present during the opening
During the preview day of Paris+ par Art Basel, high-end collectors rushed through the fair with designer handbags in tow, art advisors FaceTimed clients abroad, and curators and institutional figures walked around ready to pick. At the fair's Galeries Émergentes section, gallery directors were cautiously optimistic, even though they were worried that Paris+ wouldn't be able to attract the same quality of contacts that FIAC, a long-running French art fair that was kicked out of the Grand Palais Éphémère by Art Basel less than a year ago in a big move, always did. But the buzz seems to have brought in the same kind of smart people as FIAC did in the past.
Exhibiting something that might not sell can pay off in the long run
David Hoyland, of London's Seventeen gallery, says: "We've seen a lot of familiar faces, great collectors and very important institutional curators here." "this is one of the reasons why everyone wanted to take part in the first Paris+". Since institutional curators are present at these fairs, exhibiting something that might not sell or not sell very much can pay off in the long run if an institutional curator gets to know an artist's work and puts it in an exhibition. Gallery owners also liked some of the other changes. People who had exhibited in the emerging galleries sector of FIAC in the past remembered being put in the tent at the back of the exhibition hall. From now on, the Galeries Émergentes are located on the ground floor.
Edouard Montassut, director of his eponymous gallery in Paris, said: "The tent lighting was nice, but it's good for us to be in the main area now." In the past, he had exhibited his works in the emerging galleries sector of the FIAC. "Before, it was a bit out of the way". While it's too early to compare the success of the fair to that of the Galeries Émergentes sector, Montassut said the people he's met so far make him excited and hopeful. "That says a lot, because I'm usually pessimistic," he said. For some, however, it was more difficult to show so much enthusiasm. Jonathan Kluth, whose gallery is in Berlin and is called Efremidis, has exhibited in the ground floor of FIAC in the past, but is now in the Galeries Émergentes section of Paris+.
Will Paris+ manage to interest the French public so much?
Kluth said: "We did very well last year, both critically and in sales, so it was a bit sad to see FIAC go." "However, there are only ten places for the Emergent Galleries, so it's a big deal to be part of it." Kluth is especially excited about the weekend, when most French people come to the fair. At least, that's how it was at FIAC. “They ask these big, tough questions,” Kluth said. "It's a culture that loves art. Unlike other fairs in Europe, people here are really interested." We do not yet know if Paris+ will manage to interest the French public as much.
Jean Dubreil