Page 26 - AC-3-2

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

is a growing concern about the unequal representation and cultural relationship between equality and power has
discussion of art from various countries and regions in significant implications for cultural construction, market
global interactions. Although the current global art market dissemination, and communication. Cultural equality is
emphasizes cultural diversity and equality, and cultural often discussed in conjunction with issues of imperialism
scholars have engaged in discussions about affirmative and cultural colonization, which have caused imbalances
action, relevant research has yet to adequately address this in the global art market. During globalization, some
broader issue of equality. countries have adopted protectionist measures, raising
While current art market research focuses on affirmative questions about whether globalization has had a positive
discourse, key questions of equality remain unanswered: Is effect on the promotion of cultural equality and pluralism.
the struggle for art market discourse a dynamic process or Wu Mengyang, a doctoral student at the Chinese
an established structure? How to deconstruct it to build a Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing, China), presented
more effective market mechanism? The research of three a talk on “Global art market and cultural equality from
master’s students from the School of Art Administration the perspective of cultural heritage law.” According to
and Education at CAFA offers some insight into these global art market statistics, the distribution of transaction
questions. values among countries remains stable, indicating that
Lv’s research discussed the concept of “narrative the international art market is still highly localized. The
reconstruction” in the art market, which involves shaping flow of artworks in the global market sustains the cultural
historical narratives by accumulating original materials. dominance of the dominant class, which may appear
This approach, when combined with the specific context of “fair” but is, in reality, a hidden form of inequality. Wu
art market research in China, can offer multiple narratives advocates for promoting cultural diversity and breaking
that engage market participants in a more proactive and the dichotomy within the international art market by
equitable manner. Moreover, literature can also provide a revisiting the concept of cultural heritage law and related
more universal framework for global art market history cases in the development of international art law. He
research. Qiu’s research, titled “Relational commodities suggested that strengthening cultural power within the
and identity: Intercultural landscapes as a form of framework of human rights law could offer a potential path
participatory tourism – The case of the Cairns Aboriginal toward institutionalizing equality in the global art market.
Art Fair,” stemmed from her experience working at the Ji Ran, a doctoral student at the School of Humanities,
Waradah Center for Aboriginal Art. Her study examined CAFA, presented “Facing the crisis of French contemporary
the relationship between relational commodities and art: The establishment and reform of foundations in
identity, focusing on how Aboriginal art has evolved France,” focusing on the development and transformation
through commercialization and internationalization. of France’s social fund system. Since the beginning of the
Using the Cairns Aboriginal Art Fair as a primary case 21 century, the French social fund has grown significantly,
st
study, Qiu identified the fair as an authoritative space for with La loi Aillagon serving as a landmark regulation
the legal sale of Aboriginal art, as well as a social venue in France’s art and culture sponsorship system. This
for engagement with diverse cultural backgrounds. This regulation played a key role in addressing the “crisis” facing
participatory model of cultural tourism offers visitors French contemporary art by stimulating greater social
an in-depth understanding of Aboriginal culture while involvement in the development of culture and the arts. Ji’s
simultaneously providing a means for Aboriginal people to study examined the respective advantages and limitations
assert their identity. of government and social funding through a comparative
Li’s research focused on the correlation between major analysis with the French Regional Contemporary Art Fund
manifestations of the 19 -century British art market and system, created by Jack Lang. The study revealed that,
th
class transformation. In the era of during the rise of the under La loi Aillagon, the distribution of foundations in
emerging middle class, the Agnew family, as art dealers, France remains somewhat monocentric, while the French
played a pivotal role in shaping collectors’ tastes, establishing Regional Contemporary Art Fund system has helped
cultural prestige, and facilitating auction transactions. democratize culture to some extent. Ji also explored the
They helped create a thriving art-consumption culture reasons why these two models have alternated in France’s
with this new class. In addition, the Agnew family actively cultural concept.
contributed to the cultural development of the city, thereby Art law is a crucial issue in the art market, and artists
expanding their influence. must understand both the scope and limitations of the law.
The issue of cultural equality has long been a concern Future research can offer more practical recommendations
in the art market, and in-depth reflection on the cross- and use legal issues to reflect on how to construct and

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 7 doi: 10.36922/ac.4713