Article translated by Amritee Mahabir

The “Kyobai” sale dedicated to art and contemporary Japanese culture, and organised on the 3^rd April by the Phillips de Pury auction house in London made profits of 3,287,000 pounds. It was a somewhat mediocre result for the Phillips which presented to the public masterpieces executed by the greatest celebrities within the artistic sphere Made in Japan. The piece that sold for a higher price was a gorgeous installation entitled Panda, by Takashi Murakami, which commemorates the Manga tradition and plays with the concept of crossbreeding, much-loved topics of contemporary Japanese art. Panda started from an initial estimate of 400-600 million pounds selling for 1,364,000 pounds. The Japanese Andy Warhol had notable sales and during the course of the auction achieved second top price with Kinoko Isu, 2003 that was sold for 288,500 pounds.

Other than Murakami works, the London auction house showcased many works by Nobuyoshi Araki, one of the best Japanese photographers: A/Film, 2006 #2, from an initial estimate of 60-80 million pounds, sold for 90, 500 pounds; Shiki in me of 2006, starting from a value of 15-20 million pounds, went under the hammer for 22,100 pounds. These sales naturally do not equal the personal record by the artist on 11^th May 2006 at Phillips in New York, when the installation 100 Works for Robert Frank – Private Diary (1993) was sold for 132,000 dollars at double its estimate. From 1995 to today Nobuyoshi Araki has exhibited in 445 auctions (of which only 66 were on the Italian market) with 57% of sales. The Phillips event involved other Japanese art exhibitors who by now have achieved world fame. Among these Yayoi Kusama stands out. She is one of the greatest living Japanese artists who, since the fifties, imposed in her poetry a categorical imperative or rather that of confusing the audience. Despite having directed films, collaborated with magazines and participated in experimental activities of every kind, the thing that earned her fame is the creation of these installations in which cue balls, wires, mirrors, and anything that contorts perception, communicate the same profound uneasiness in public.

Some 6 fine works by Kusama were showcased in the “Kyobai” auction, including Original Infinity Nets (estimated at 25-35 million pounds) selling for 36,500 pounds, Evening Glow (estimated at 25-35 million pounds) which sold for 38,900 pounds. Let’s mention a few of the lots that performed well: Okamoto Aya wears Eri Matsui (2001) by Izima Kaoru, that gave an initial value of 5-7 million pounds, sold for 11,875 pounds. It is a poetic and unnerving piece, vicious and seductive that shows Japanese photographic art at its best. It is since 1993 that Izima Kaoru has put up works of sophisticated violence and enchanting horror. He invites actresses and models to reveal their fantasies of perfect death to him; he asks what brand clothes they would like to dress in at the moment of their death. In this way, the death scenes painted in his photos don’t make cross references to something irreversible, but of a moment of great elegance and aesthetics.

During the “Kyobai” auction works of immense artistic quality were proposed which achieved mediocre sales: Untitled (Portrait) by Yoshitomo Nara, was sold for 72,500 pounds after an initial estimate of 60-80 million pounds, Niufu by Kazuo Shiraga went under the hammer for 34,100 against an initial value of 30-40 million pounds; A Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo by the chameleon Yasumasa Morimura, started from an estimate of 6-8 million pounds, selling for 11,875 pounds.