As a valuable and emotional refuge, arteba once again surprised

Works that exceeded US$300,000 were sold, in the midst of the economic crisis and in a tense pre-election climate; a similar phenomenon occurred in other editions of uncertain years
"Like the tub of ice cream when you're down." This is how a gallery owner humorously defined the effect that arteba has in times of crisis. Yes, good works are bought as "value protection", she acknowledged, like the rest of her colleagues consulted. But many also thought that the fair, which this year has received more than 40,000 visitors to the Centro Costa Salguero, functions as an "emotional refuge" from everyday problems.

“We must tear down the myth that we come here to disconnect from reality. We come to nurture another part, to connect with other stimuli such as poetry and creativity, which are also part of human reality and are inspiring”, said gallery owner Nora Fisch, who ended the fair with a good balance of sales.
Several galleries had to change the works of their stands the first day and others like Daniel Maman took longer, but it was worth the wait. The latter confirmed yesterday that he sold valuable pieces by Luis Wells, Guillermo Kuitca, Fernando Botero, Antonio Berni, Luis Benedit and Alberto Heredia, for figures that in several cases exceeded $200,000 -and even $300,000- each. Cosmocosa and Palatina also sold works by Berni, one of the most valued Argentine artists. His legacy was also very well represented once again in the Uruguayan South. Its director, Martín Castillo, limited himself to saying that it was "a good fair."

Two former presidents of arteba recalled that Argentine art is a very good investment. “There are works of exceptional quality at a price in dollars that is quite derisory. We have a devalued country, and the people who have resources take advantage of the opportunity”, observed Jacobo Fiterman. While Facundo Gómez Minujín, an expert in finance, added that “art is a refuge of value and is very cheap in Argentina. The works of the most recognized artists are still very cheap compared to any other market in Latin America”.

“People want a bit of sophistication, a bit of joy, a bit of quality, and they lock themselves up in that world of a few days behind closed doors, to forget about everything that is happening outside,” added the latter. Joaquín Rodríguez, collector and one of the promoters of the En Obra Award, also opined that "the fair is above all an emotional refuge, where one connects with the human to return recharged to everyday problems."

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