George Condo's 'Antipodal Reunion' sold for $1.2 million at a recent Sotheby's online auction. On Wednesday, Sotheby's announced its new online marketplace platform focused on primary sales. Courtesy Sotheby's
George Condo's 'Antipodal Reunion' sold for $1.2 million at a recent Sotheby's online auction. On Wednesday, Sotheby's announced its new online marketplace platform focused on primary sales. Courtesy Sotheby's
George Condo's 'Antipodal Reunion' sold for $1.2 million at a recent Sotheby's online auction. On Wednesday, Sotheby's announced its new online marketplace platform focused on primary sales. Courtesy Sotheby's
George Condo's 'Antipodal Reunion' sold for $1.2 million at a recent Sotheby's online auction. On Wednesday, Sotheby's announced its new online marketplace platform focused on primary sales. Courtesy

Gallery Network: Sotheby's launches online marketplace for buyers to make instant art purchases


Alexandra Chaves
  • English
  • Arabic

Auction house Sotheby’s has launched an online, ‘buy-now’ marketplace for partnering galleries. The Sotheby’s Gallery Network allows collectors to make immediate purchases directly from the website.

Prices will be listed publicly and works of up to $150,000 (Dh550,000) can be bought as point-of-sale transactions, much like on other e-commerce platforms. Visitors can send enquiries to staff for works priced beyond that amount.

Sotheby's Gallery Network was created to help partners during 'these unprecedented times'

For every piece sold, Sotheby’s will collect a commission, which is stated in the price online.

The marketplace, which launched on Wednesday, currently showcases viewing rooms for eight New York galleries. This includes Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, Jack Shainman Gallery, Kasmin Gallery, Lehmann Maupin, Luhring Augustine, Petzel Gallery, Sperone Westwater and Van Doren Waxter.

The "buy-now" function is not unique to Sotheby's. Online art platform Artsy introduced this feature for member galleries on its website last year. What's different about the Gallery Network, however, is that it will focus on primary sales as opposed to the typical auction house approach of secondary market sales.

A screenshot of the Sotheby's Gallery Network, which currently showcases works from eight New York galleries. Courtesy Sotheby's
A screenshot of the Sotheby's Gallery Network, which currently showcases works from eight New York galleries. Courtesy Sotheby's

The project was created to help partners during "these unprecedented times", according to the announcement. This refers to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has caused closures of galleries and cancellations of art fairs and auctions. Amid the crisis, art fairs and galleries have stepped up their digital strategies.

Last week, Sotheby’s marked its highest total in online sales with their "Contemporary Curated" selection, bringing in $6.4 million. Pre-sale estimates were placed at $4.2m to $5.8m.

This was initially intended to be a live auction in London, but the event was converted to an online sale due to the pandemic.

The top lot was a painting by George Condo titled Antipodal Reunion, which sold for $1.2m. Second to that was Iranian artist Monir Farmanfarmaian's Geometry of Hope, which sold at $470,925. Other names in the lot included Fahrelnissa Zeid, Yayoi Kusama, Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.

The auction house is due to host a Covid-19 charity sale in collaboration with Google to support the International Rescue Committee on May 1. This online auction will offer bidders the opportunity to converse with some of the biggest names in music, politics, science, culture and sport – from Hillary Clinton to Madeleine Albright.

For more information, visit www.sothebys.com

The Birkin bag is made by Hermès. 
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.

Sukuk explained

Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 720hp

Torque: 770Nm

Price: Dh1,100,000

On sale: now

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

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World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  9. Peshawar, Pakistan
  10. Bagpat, India

Super Rugby play-offs

Quarter-finals

  • Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
  • Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
  • Lions 23, Sharks 21
  • Chiefs 17, Stormers 11

Semi-finals

Saturday, July 29

  • Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
  • Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm