Potential record-breaking art auction shows a growing interest in Canadian art
"I believe it's a real moment to promote the study of art in Canada, and our collective advancement."
Anna Hudson, associate professor of Canadian art history at York University, is referring to today's auction of Lawren Harris' Mountain Forms, which is projected to sell for as much as ten million dollars.
This sale has the potential to break the record for most expensive Canadian art work ever sold, which is currently held by a Paul Kane oil painting purchased for $5.06 million in 2002.
Hudson see's the auction of Harris' 1926 painting as a major opportunity to elevate the financial value of Canadian art. "I think the auction house is a trading floor, and you set the stock price of Canadian culture on the auction floor, so I hope it goes for more than 12 [million]."
Sarah Stanners, director of curatorial and collections at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, agrees, but fears the work will end up in the wrong hands.
In many ways the art world is international, and this is a very fine painting. Why not have one of Lawrence Harris' best paintings represent the artist in an important public museum collection? But there's a difference: if it went to a private buyer in the U.S. it may be impossible to access if the new owner is not forthcoming.- Sarah Stanners
"Given the size of the painting, it's an immersive experience. And I think that really reflects what Lawrence Harris believes art should do - that it was really a physical and emotional experience. You need to stand in front of it," adds Hudson.
With the growing popularity of Harris in the U.S. due to Steve Martin's continued interest in promoting his work, it is likely Mountain Forms will go to an American buyer.
David Silcox, the former President of Sotheby's Canada, wishes the existing owners of Mountain Forms, the petroleum company Imperial Oil, had done more to benefit the Canadian public with the sale of this iconic work.
"I thought that Imperial Oil might might have given more thought as to how they wanted to deaccession, whether by donating it or putting the proceeds towards some charitable cause, but they didn't."
Imperial Oil says it has plans to donate some 60 works to National Gallery and the Glenbow, with a cumulative assessed value of $3.5 million, but Silcox is dissatisfied, pointing out their collection contains over 6000 works.
More importantly, "that particular one was really special."
But Silcox says there's time yet.
"There are a lot of Canadians with pockets deep enough to buy it."
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this web post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Willow Smith and Liz Hoath.