Discover Twenty One Co., Ltd.
What is genuine “art thinking” that can be used in business? Released “An Art Dealer’s Interpretation of the Business History of Western Art”
Discover Twenty-One Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Naomi Taniguchi) published “The Business History of Western Art Demystified by an Art Dealer” (written by Yoshiro Takahashi) on December 23, 2022.
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Modern times in the midst of the “art boom”
Now, attention is focused on “art”.
For example, in 2017, the painting The Savior, said to be by Leonardo da Vinci, was put up for auction and sold for approximately 51 billion yen. This is the highest price ever for a painting (as of December 2022).
Also, in 2021, the work “Love is in the Trash Bin” by Banksy, a masked artist who does not reveal his identity, was sold for about 2.9 billion yen. At an auction three years ago, this work became a hot topic when the shredder that was installed was activated at the same time that the painting was sold. At that time, it was sold for about 150 million yen, so the price increased 19 times in just three years. In this way, the price index of art, which has high asset value, has a higher rate of increase than stocks and real estate, and is becoming more popular among the wealthy.
But should art be judged solely on price?
Recently, it seems that only the economic aspect of art is being focused on, but the true value of art is its aesthetic value, which is indescribable in words, and brings excitement and joy when viewed. As it spread as a social system, it gained social value, such as the creation of art museums and its incorporation into education. In this book, the author, who has a gallery in Kyobashi, Tokyo, focuses on the economic value of art. This is what I read from the point of view of an art dealer standing between the two.
Both art and business are fictional
Historian Yuval Noah Harari, in his book A Complete History of Sapiens, fictionally believes why modern humans, known as Homo sapiens, were able to outcompete other humans and thrive. I think it was because I was very talented. The fiction here is religion, money, and the state.
Without the fiction of “fighting for God” or “fighting for the nation,” it is impossible to cooperate and confront the enemy. Only Homo sapiens believed in religions and nations and expanded their territory. Yuval Noah Harari calls this the “cognitive revolution.” If nations and money are fictional, then art and business are also fictional. However, humans have painted murals since the Stone Age, and have been doing business through bartering since the time when money did not exist.
Even if art and business are fictional, their fictional origins are ancient, and both are deeply related to the fundamental desires of human beings.
Because art was sought after by many people, it was linked to business and developed to a high degree.
What art and business have in common
Art and business have a lot in common.
That is, while both are fictional, at their roots lies communication, which is essential for human connections.
In art, communication is born when the viewer reads and understands the message that the creator puts in the work. In business, by providing goods and services that customers want, communication occurs with customers who find the significance of that.
When we look at how art has gained economic value among people, the origins of art and business are surprisingly similar.
In the age of VUCA, there is a limit to just rational and cool logical thinking. Neither art nor business can survive without originality, originality and innovation. Understanding art will also be useful in business. In particular, art is the best tool for understanding human emotions. Get a real “art thinking” through this book.
book outline
【table of contents】
Chapter 1 What is art?
Chapter 2 The Birth of Artists in the Renaissance
Chapter 3 Transition of art after the Renaissance
Chapter 4 Birth of Media and Brands
Chapter 5 Rise and Development of Art Dealers
Chapter 6 The relationship between art and business
[Author information]
Yoshiro Takahashi
Brucke Co., Ltd. Representative Director
Born in Ehime Prefecture in 1961
After graduating as a sculptor from Tama Art University in 1983, he studied contemporary art at the B-seminar of a contemporary art vocational school.
1985 Joined Art Life Co., Ltd., an art exhibition planning and management company
In 1988, he left the company and became independent with the aim of becoming an art dealer.
1990 Established Brücke Co., Ltd.
In 1996, he opened “Suiha Gallery” in Ginza, and then moved to Kyobashi in 2001, where he continues today.
His books include “Fascinating Modern French Paintings at Price” (Gentosha) and “Six Business Laws Learned from Art” (Sunrise Publishing).
[Book information]
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Title: “An Art Dealer’s Interpretation of the Business History of Western Art” Release date: December 23, 2022
Publisher: Discover Twenty One
Specifications: 46 size / 344 pages
ISBN: 978-4-910286-25-9
List price: 2200 yen (tax included)
[Click here to purchase this book]
Amazon https://amzn.to/3VExYec
Rakuten Books https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/17352152/
Details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001001.000018193.html