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

develop the art market more positively after regulation. to art appreciation between Western and Japanese
Zhou Chen, a master’s student from the School of Arts scholars, noting that Western scholars tend to emphasize
Administration and Education at CAFA, focused on the sociological and historical values, while Japanese scholars
article “Legal analysis of the risks of art exhibition contracts prioritize literary and spiritual values.
from the perspective of international law.” The article Zhang Fanyu, a doctoral student at the University of
highlighted common disputes that arise in international Nottingham (United Kingdom), presented a research paper
art exhibitions due to their transnational, multi-party, titled “A free port as a hub in the global art world: A case
and complex nature. Zhou emphasized the significance of study of Shanghai Art Free Port.” Zhang’s paper discussed
having written contracts in international exchanges and the unique role of art-free ports in China, particularly
stressed the importance of decision-making regarding the focusing on the Shanghai Free Port. He explained that this
choice of jurisdiction and the application of law within free port occupies a pivotal position in the art ecosystem and
the contract’s terms. The timing of the delivery of works highlighted security issues arising from its confidentiality
should be carefully considered in the payment process, and transaction opacity. Zhang also noted that, in recent
and the exhibition schedule should be planned according years, the Shanghai Freeport has improved its economic
to each country’s judicial seizure exemptions. efficiency, with relevant tax concessions further promoting
7. Transactions and circulations: the growth of the art market in Shanghai.
Information in objects Building on the central theme of trading and circulation
of objects in art market studies, scholars have examined the
Circulation is a key concept in art market research. By market through historical evidence. Gu Yun, an Associate
examining the flow and exchange of artworks, researchers Professor at CAFA, presented research on the history of art
can gain a more comprehensive understanding of collections in Nanxun, Zhejiang, in the 20 century. Her
th
the channels and networks that constitute the art paper explains how the rise of the merchant class and the
market. This perspective not only reveals the internal decline of the traditional Chinese social system led to the
workings of the art market but also highlights the development of a unique art collection in Nanxun. Key
significance of art circulation in broader contexts. In figures from the Nanxun gentry and merchant families
the study of globalization, the transnational circulation played a significant role in this phenomenon. In the
of artworks raises issues of acceptance and identity, as aftermath of the Second Opium War and the fall of the
well as the diversity of esthetic interests across different Qing dynasty, numerous Chinese cultural relics entered
countries. The flow of art objects carries valuable market the market, profoundly influencing the overseas collection
information, and related research offers a perspective of Chinese cultural heritage. The Nanxun area played a
for understanding the dynamics and relations between vital role in facilitating the global flow of Chinese art and
regions and the international arena by describing the cultural relics.
movement of cultural relics and artworks.
Scholars also examined the fate and circulation of
Gou Chongzhi, a doctoral student from the School private collections from a global perspective, while
of Humanities at CAFA, discussed John M. Crawford exploring the transformation of art collectors and market
Jr., a Chinese art collector in the United States. Gou institutions beyond their traditional roles in the process of
analyzed the structure of Crawford’s collection based on globalization. Georgina Walker, a Teaching Associate at
the list of paintings and calligraphies he donated to the the University of Melbourne, discussed how contemporary
Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1984. Crawford was the art collectors are reshaping the future of their collections
first Western collector to focus on calligraphy within his and their cultural reputations in her paper “From here
collection. Chongzhi also highlighted issues in Crawford’s to eternity: The rise and fall of global art worlds and
collection, including its narrow focus, the high degree of the contemporary private museum.” She noted that a
homogenization, and questionable authenticity. considerable number of private collections ultimately
Wang Shaojie, a doctoral student from the Academy find a home in private art museums, although only a few
of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, focused on the collectors can balance the financial and time constraints
history of the circulation of The Thirteen Emperors in Japan required to build and maintain such collections. The paper
before it entered the collection of the Museum of Fine described the activities and challenges faced by private
Arts, Boston. Wang discussed how Japan acted as a transit art museums and collectors in regions such as Germany,
point for Chinese art from overseas, serving as an “Asian China, and the Middle East. Some collectors opted to place
counter” rather than being the final destination for Chinese their artworks on long-term loans or collaborate with
artworks. He also explored the differing approaches museums, international art institutions, and universities

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 8 doi: 10.36922/ac.4713