Asia turns to Latin American art

Asia turns to Latin American art and Vigas is in the spotlight

The work of Venezuelan Oswaldo Vigas is making its way into the Asian market after his first exhibition in Hong Kong in 2023. There will be another in 2025. And one more is scheduled for the following year
The Asian market has emerged as a catalyst for some Latin American artists, generating global interest in figures such as Colombian Fernando Botero, Cuban Wifredo Lam and, more recently, Venezuelan Oswaldo Vigas. The successful insertion of these artists in Asia has raised their recognition and strengthened their positions on the international scene.

Within the broad spectrum of Western artists, the Impressionist masters have historically captured the attention of Asian collectors. A memorable milestone was the record achieved by Van Gogh's Sunflowers, auctioned at Christie's London in 1987 for 39.5 million dollars, a staggering figure for its time. That same year, Irises was sold for 53.9 million at Sotheby’s New York, consolidating the Asian fervor for Western masterpieces.

Since then, the interest of Asian collectors has not stopped increasing. Artists such as the North Americans Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, or the German Gerhard Richter have seen their works sold at stratospheric prices, driving the main international galleries to establish headquarters in strategic cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Singapore. In this context, Latin American art has gained ground to offer unique narratives and perspectives that dialogue with the sensibilities of this public.
Fernando Botero: universality and stability

Colombian Fernando Botero is the most coveted Latin American artist in Asia. His exhibitions at the National Museum of China, in Beijing (2015), and the Shanghai Museum of Art (2016) marked a before and after in his positioning in this region. In a market characterized by volatility, Botero maintains an upward trajectory that reached a bid of $5,132,000 in 2024 with The Musicians, when it was auctioned at Christie's.

The universality of his themes, such as love, family and passion, manage to resonate with an audience whose society is moving towards emotional disconnection in favor of economic dynamics. Botero represents a bridge that connects human roots with a cultural imaginary that transcends borders.
Wifredo Lam: a multicultural legacy

The case of Wifredo Lam has stood out for his ability to dialogue with his Chinese roots and his Afro-Cuban heritage. The eighth child of a Cantonese immigrant settled in Cuba, Lam combined elements of both cultures in his work, which has sparked growing interest in Asia.

His retrospective at the Asia Society in Hong Kong in 2023 and exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou have reinforced his place in this market. The auction of his work Omi obini (1943), for 9.6 million dollars, underlines the value given to his multicultural vision, capable of dialoguing with the cultural complexities of Asia.
Two new exhibitions by Oswaldo Vigas in Asia

More recently, after the publication of his catalogue raisonné in 2022, the Venezuelan Oswaldo Vigas begins to establish himself in the most competitive and demanding market on the international scene.

His work, which spans more than seven decades, combines elements of Venezuelan mythology and pre-Hispanic art with contemporary European aesthetics and a visual language that celebrates the richness of his mestizo identity. This synthesis, which Vigas described as a cross between three continents, provides his production with a symbolism that transcends cultural barriers.
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