Asia’s market for contemporary art has come into its own over recent years, especially through Hong Kong, which has emerged as one of the world’s great art hubs. Among the architects and stakeholders of this emergence is Jonathan Crockett, chairman of the auction house Phillips in Asia. Here, he shares his thoughts on art and influence.
One of the great things about art is its ability to influence the way people feel. Art can and should evoke a variety of different emotions: joy, sadness, and even a deeper sense of inner peace. If a work of art isn’t evoking such emotions, or if it’s not influencing peoples’ lives in a meaningful way, then it's not doing its job—it's not great art.
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This is something I’ve learned about art and its influence over the course of my career as an auctioneer. Phillips is a 225-year-old auction house founded in London; I oversee the company’s strategy in Asia as well as the 20th Century and Contemporary Art department in the region, in which the contemporary art market is in a stage of dynamic development.
The Chinese art market is one of the oldest in the world, but its nature has changed rapidly in recent history. Over the past 10 years, Hong Kong has developed into one of the world’s leading art markets, rising at a pace that’s unlike anywhere else ever before. It’s been a challenge to keep on top of this market, but Phillips has found success in our approach of offering international contemporary art at the very highest level.
I acknowledge that this work—my work—comes with a certain measure of influence, and I don’t take that for granted. With great influence, after all, comes great responsibility, and people of influence must use it to do the right thing. I have the responsibility to influence the art we include in our sales—the art that the collecting community in Asia is presented with. Therefore, I am charged with the responsibility to select and present art that's evocative and inspiring.
In pursuit of this, I’ve learned that it's not about being the biggest—it's about being the best. It’s about bringing high-quality artworks to a market of collectors who deserve it. Asia is the future when it comes to contemporary art, and it needs to be treated as such. That’s why we take pride in bringing in A-grade work by relevant artists.