SG MAG AUG 2019 MAIN_1

“There are no Fakes” is the title of a hot new Canadian documentary that features an estimated $30 million in fraudulent art sales –
The Morrisseau Forgeries. One of the art dealers in the film says that there could be as many as 3,000 paintings involved in this fraud over
the last few decades. This highlights a huge problem for the art world where many fakes and forgeries look as old as the originals and many
galleries, dealers, museums and collectors are fooled. However, there is usually some small detail in the provenance that exposes the
forgery but it often escapes even the experts. It’s caveat emptor for the most part i.e. the buyer is solely responsible for the purchase as
long as the dealer acts in good faith. An authenticated painting sells at a huge multiple to a questionable one. The stakes are very high!
Han van Meegeren (1889-1947) is an interesting case of fakes. He was so offended by criticism, that his work was
unoriginal, he created a new and original work, Supper at Emmaus, by the great master Johannes Vermeer. He
intended to declare his hoax once the painting was authenticated as a masterpiece but he never made that
declaration. A Dutch gallery bought it and used it as a centerpiece for an exhibition. Meegeren went on to forge
others. In 1945 he sold one of his fake Vermeers to Nazi Leader Hermann Goering. After the war he was charged
with selling a work of national importance to a member of the Nazi party. In his defense he had to admit his forgery. He became world
famous as the man who swindled Goering. The world may have been fooled forever, if not for this confession.
Michelangelo started his career as an art forger albeit that he was an extremely skillful artist. He created a number
of statues, including one called the Sleeping Cupid, when he was working for Lorenzo di Pierfranseco. Another
eminent forger was one Elmyr de Hory who sold over 1000 fakes by famous artists such as Picasso, Matisse and
others. It is indeed ironic that his own works are now sought after and forgeries claimed to be forged by him have
begun to appear in auctions. There are many more examples of forgeries. It really is a crazy art world!
There is no doubt that the Art Business is Big Business making the gamble worthwhile.
Once a painting is authenticated as a masterpiece it can attract a huge price in a gallery or
at an auction house. It’s a big payday for both dealers and auction houses. Many questionable
paintings never come to light because the buyers have no interest in finding out afterwards that they have a
worthless painting. Police estimate that up to 50% of the art sold on the international market may be forged.
Major museums may be holding collections that are about 20% fake. In April 2018, a French museum discovered
that 82 of their 140 Etienne Terrus paintings were fakes.
Artists often receive only a small fraction of the hammer prices for their valuable artworks and some artists are fighting back. One such
artist, Jack Armstrong, from his early days in New York as a model and artist, shunned the Galleries and Auction houses. He called them the
“Art Cartel.” He says that they sell factory art—art reproduced by lowly paid artists then signed by their own, gallery promoted, artist.
Armstrong proved that it’s possible to break through this art establishment wall and self-promote, selling million dollar art. Alice Walton
owns two originals. Armstrong’s Cosmic X art, a style he founded, and painted only 100, is virtually impossible to forge. This extremely
limited production makes them easy to track. His paintings also contain his fingerprints, handprints and DNA.
Star Global International Inc. has been promoting Armstrong’s works for nearly a decade after rocketing him to art star status with their
“Million Dollar Harley” promotion. Armstrong painted this V-Rod Harley Davidson it is the most expensive motorcycle in the world. There
are no Gallery showings or Auction prices yet over 50% of his paintings are already in private hands with no eager sellers. This will change
and a secondary market will evolve. The extremely limited production will cause his prices to skyrocket. His current prices range from $5
million to $50 million. Millions of people have seen his works many of which are currently promoted in a Digital retrospective in New
York’s Times Square just above the main entrance of Ripley’s. The artist claims his paintings will eventually sell in the $100 million ranges
alongside those of his contemporaries and friends from his New York sojourn in the early 80’s. Armstrong was a friend of Andy Warhol who
called him The Last Wizard, Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Star Global are able to authenticate any Armstrong painting and
represent several of the paintings. We currently have two for sale and welcome all enquiries.
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