Although Artbo does not seek to be a large trade show, its growth is undeniable: 65 galleries that were in the 2014 edition, this year the International Art Fair in Bogotá went to 84, from 33 cities worldwide.
The reason for this increase is due to the change of date, which allowed the fair not to conflict with others. “The Colombian market has a lot to show and every time we come we try to learn more about it to exploit its advantages,” said Gregor Podnar, a German gallery owner, who presented the Galerija Gregor Podnar (Berlin).
Last year around 450 artists exhibited works, this time there were about 500, with more than 3,000 works. Moreover, some 35,000 people, including the general public, collectors and curators from Colombia and other countries visited the fair, which ended last Sunday. This represented an increase of 5,000 visitors compared to last year. And 10,000 more, when compared with participants who had in 2013 also attended the fair.
Maria Paz Gaviria, director of Artbo stressed the resonance that this event has acquired now having held its 11th edition on the world stage. “Increasingly, the model of the show gains more world recognition. Its position as a quality in Latin America is stronger” she said in a press release announced at the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota.
Moreover, the commitment to including contemporary artistic expressions such as ‘performance’ or the ‘happening’, inside and outside the fair, was well received on social networks.
On this occasion, the first Oma Art Award was given to José Alejandro Restrepo, winner of the Luis Caballero Prize VII in 2013. The artist Sandra Rengifo, who presented her work in the Artecámara section, was the winner of Prodigy Flora Scholarship Award, now in its 3rd year and delivered by Prodigy Network and supported by El Tiempo and ‘La W’.
“It is a very important event for the region and as Mexicans we wanted to have presence in Colombia. Artbo has become a fair for all of Latin America, “said the Mexican gallerist Andres Arredondo.
Leave a Reply