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Arts & Communication Review of 2023 symposium on the global art market

this process, there has been an inevitable fusion and clash facilitate the global mobility of the art market, while also
of cultures and economies between East and West, and identifying multiple obstacles faced by the market in its
between North and South. However, the globalization of process of globalization. In 2018, a special issue of the
the art market has not led to a sufficiently diverse cultural journal Poetics on the theme “Global Art Markets” was
landscape, as the gap between countries has continued published, featuring a collection of articles that analyzed
to widen. Meanwhile, populism, protectionism, and the manifestations, mechanisms, and consequences of
“anti-globalization” sentiments have grown stronger. The globalization within the art market. At the same time,
challenges we face today – ranging from the climate crisis skepticism regarding the term “globalization” persists,
to localized conflicts and widespread inequality – are global and some scholars maintain a cautious stance toward its
issues that require global solutions. In this context, dialog impact on the art market. Art sociologist Alain Gorman’s
and communication are crucial, making “re-globalization” research on art fairs, for instance, has shown that the
an especially valuable topic of discussion. contemporary art market remains dominated by a few
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While the globalization of cultural research has been a countries and is highly regionalized. In 2013, Velthuis,
significant development, the global history paradigm in through a quantitative analysis of gallery practices, argued
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the field of art market research is still in the process of being that “globalization” in the art market is still in its infancy.
established. Reviewing the trajectory of contemporary The Chinese market has emerged as a prominent force
global art market scholarship, we see that in the 1980s, within the global art world, and the rise of art market
with the advancement of information technology, research and practice in China is closely aligned with the
artworks began to circulate globally. During this period, forces of globalization. By adopting Western models of art
the Western-centered research paradigm dominated, market organization and operation, China has developed
primarily focusing on the development of the art market in a contemporary art market system, and today, it stands as
Europe and the United States. Influenced by the concepts of the world’s second-largest art market, playing a core role
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“globalization” and “connected history,” Western scholars in the global art market. As such, globalization is a critical
began incorporating non-Western art into their research, context for Chinese art market research. Within this field
a shift that has come to be known as “global history.” This of research, Chinese art critics present two opposing
shift symbolizes the interconnectedness and integration of perspectives on globalization. He expressed reservations
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Eastern and Western art research. With the rise of cross- about globalization, viewing it as synonymous with
cultural research, scholar Wu Hong has made a significant “Westernization” and influenced by cultural hegemony.
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contribution to the construction of a pluralistic, symbiotic On the other hand, Wu argued that “international
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research paradigm through his methodology of “learning survival” will be the inevitable path for the development
from the East and the West,” which emphasizes mutual of Chinese art. With the introduction of interdisciplinary
observation and active dialog between different cultures perspectives and research methods, along with the
within the context of globalization. establishment of research platforms, the globalization of
Recent research has increasingly approached the art the art market has become a topic of broader and deeper
market from a broader perspective, examining the impact discussion in China. In 2018, the China Chapter of the
of economic marketization and globalization on art International Art Market Studies Association (TIAMSA)
creation, exhibitions, and sales. Sociological scholars have was founded at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)
focused on the effects of globalization on the art market, in Beijing, providing a platform for professionals in
including changes in market structure, shifts in the artistic related fields worldwide to exchange ideas and foster
preferences of artists and collectors, and the evolving connections. In 2019, the International Symposium of
influence of these groups. Their research also explored Global Art Market Research was jointly organized by
the complex relationship between cultural and economic CAFA’s School of Arts Administration and Education and
values, particularly how globalization affects the pricing TIAMSA CHINA. The conference, themed “Structure and
and collection of artworks. In 2009, Belting co-edited Innovation,” covered a range of topics, including current
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a series of anthologies with scholars on the globalization international art market trends, regional competition,
of contemporary art in the 21 century, raising important innovation in art market business and service models,
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questions about the impact of globalized art production financial innovation, technological advancements,
and consumption. In 2015, Cosmopolitan Canvases: The operational innovation in art market institutions, and the
Globalization of Markets for Contemporary Art, edited globalization of art market research. This symposium laid
by Velthuis and Curioni, brought together cutting-edge the groundwork for fostering connections and promoting
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research on the globalization of contemporary art markets. exchanges between the Chinese art market and the global
This book focuses on the organizational networks that art market.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 2 doi: 10.36922/ac.4713