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As an art advisor, Simonida is asked about the fiscal side almost as As little as ten years ago, the mere mention of contemporary art
much as the aesthetic: "I always tell people to buy what they love. If from Asia drew blank stares from all but a handful of cognoscenti.
you don't like it, you’re just hanging money, and money can be lost
as well as won. In general the shrewdest collectors have not been
speculators, but rather art lovers, romantics if you like." And there
are many that have benefitted from Simonida's trained eye, not least
Zhuang Hong Yi, a Chinese artist living in Rotterdam: "Zhuang is
fantastically popular, and has a delicate touch that floored me when
I first came across his work. He's immensely talented and I know that
his star will continue to rise."
The rise of Asian fine art internationally remains exponential, with
no signs of slowing down.
While corporate giants, economists and politicians were
proclaiming the Pacific Century, few took notice of the cultural
currency quietly being minted by a new generation of artists
throughout the region.
What a difference a decade makes. Now, there’s hardly a museum
on the planet that hasn’t showcased some facet of contemporary
Asian art. Galleries scour the East, searching for the next big name.
Collectors from all corners are in pursuit.