Are art auctions pandemic-proof?

Salcedo Auctions’ experience during the past three years seem to affirm that they are. One of the country’s leading auction houses has not only managed to survive the pandemic’s disruptions. Thanks to its highly developed digital infrastructure, it even continues to thrive, as it holds a series of sold-out auctions online or in hybrid format. The rest of the year is likely to be a banner one for the auction house, as it welcomes art connoisseurs in person with the launch of “The Well-Appointed Life” this Saturday. Rare artworks of 13 of the country’s 17 National Artists, as well as vintage jewelry and antique furniture pieces are up for bidding.

By Ma. Angelica Demegillo

Even a pandemic can’t stop art from surviving, even thriving. Nothing can! If Salcedo Auctions’ success is any indication, art auctions are alive and well in the country. One of the country’s leading auction houses continues to grow while living up to its vision and mission of showcasing the best and most-sought after contemporary artworks, décor, fine jewelry and timepieces that have, regardless of the season, universal appeal among serious collectors.

The auction house’s eighth edition of “The Well-Appointed Life,” which is on September 17, boasts of a stellar line-up of artworks up for auction. Just like in previous years, even when its auctions were conducted partly online in 2020 and 2021, the pieces are not just aesthetically pleasing, but are also imbued with  historical significance.

For one, the lineup includes artworks from 13 of the country’s 17 National Artists such as Vicente Manansala’s exquisite untitled 1978 piece depicting vendors, Ang Kiukok’s ‘Bananas #3’ and ‘Bananas #4,’ which were previously displayed at the Philippine Art Gallery, and BenCab’s rare 1969 untitled mother and child piece, among others.

Other covetable artworks include Fernando Zobel’s first painting, Oscar Zalameda’s fiesta-themed canvas which, at 63-1/2 x 119 inches, is the largest work by the artist and the biggest to be offered for auction to date, Nena Saguil’s rare untitled red abstract piece, an vivid and iconic Malang and Luz’s treasured “Madjapahit Pot & Two Boxes.” Rare artworks by celebrated artists and historical figures such as Félix Resurrección Hidalgo and Juan Luna will also be up for grabs, as are prized paintings by National Artists Jose Joya, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz and H.R. Ocampo.

The vernissage held in-person last Friday at Salcedo Auctions’ Makati address buzzed with excitement, as art aficionados and guests filled the gallery, eyes wandering and wondering about the decades-old paintings, decor and Spanish colonial-era furniture pieces.

The upcoming “The Well-Appointed Life” auction is just as grand as its predecessors, but what exactly makes this year’s event special? In an interview with PeopleAsia, Salcedo Auctions’ managing director Victor Silvino says that this year’s “The Well-Appointed Life” auction is made more exceptional with the presence of artworks by greatly celebrated visual artists like Manansala, Saguil and Luz.

All thanks to their timely evolution of going online, Salcedo Auctions hasn’t survived, but continued conducting art auctions through its digital platform.

“It’s been an amazing ride because we saw new audiences through our digital platform. We expanded our audience and clients, and we see a lot of new collectors now and then the old collectors are starting to come back,” Silvino says.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Salcedo Auctions had already launched its digital platform where art connoisseurs and collectors could browse through the auction-ready pieces online. Thus, when the pandemic hit in 2020, they still managed to hold 10 art auctions, six of which were purely online and four were hybrid events. Last year, they’ve also held eight to 10 auctions. With a few months to go before year’s end, Silivino and colleagues are more or less tracking the same figures this year as pandemic restrictions started easing.

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect for us because we have to deal with the new landscape. Our bids are handled by telephone, by absentee. And our clients started participating online, whereas before they’ll just call. They started bidding on their own online,” Silvino adds.

Generally, about 90 percent of the pieces are made by Filipino artists, but this year’s auction also features artworks by foreign artists like U Lun Gywe, an Indonesian, and Mai Trung Thu, a Vietnamese.

The “Well-Appointed Life” auction gallery is open for public preview up to September 16 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The auction proper will take place live and online on Saturday, September 17, from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. Register to bid and browse the catalog at salcedoauctions.com. For inquiries, email info@salcedoauctions.com or phone +632 8 8230956 | +63 917 591 2191.  Follow @salcedoauctions on Instagram and Facebook for updates.