Manager of XiLing Auction Company, Lu Jingqing
Artron.net: XiLing Auction Company was founded in 2004 and is now honored as “The First Hammer of South China”. What is the secret of such a great success in just five years?
Lu Jingqing: I think the secret is the principle we stick to, i.e. authenticity and honesty first. I insist that the responsibility of an auction house should include inheriting and developing culture and arts of a nation, to be specific, understanding of arts, professional knowledge, connoisseurship, and judgment of the market value, etc. You have to think that if the artwork you offer can lead the market. It is very important for the management of an auction house. Besides, honesty, social responsibility, and flexible marketing strategy also matter.
Artron.net: XiLing Auction held the first preview in Beijing for its autumn auctions in 2009. As the first auction house in south China visiting Beijing over the past five years, what does it mean?
Mr. Lu: The purpose of our visit to Beijing is to deepen the cultural communication between north and south China. Also, we hope that it will help people look at the art market from a new perspective, so that we can find the unique charisma of traditional Chinese culture and spread it. The cultural and creative industry can flourish through the construction of a more systematic and standard transaction platform of the artwork. Many large auction houses have visited cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou in the south, so our visit will promote the communication between north and south China.
Artron.net: Is there any adjustment in auction items for the autumn auctions in XiLing Auction’s fifth anniversary?
Mr. Lu: The most distinguish progress during the five years is in the quality and quantity of auction items. We have realized the goal set five year ago. In the future, we will continue to develop and achieve a new goal. For the auctions on this special occasion, we will have more special auctions and items than before.
Artron.net: Why did XiLing Auction hold the special auctions like “The First Sale of Chinese Writing Brush from Ming and Qing Dynasty” and “The First Sale of Jade Carving by Contemporary Chinese Masters”?
Mr. Lu: There are numerous kinds of artwork in China and in the world. In this sense, any artwork can be auction items. Take Chinese artwork as an example, there are still many categories to be discovered. But the key is professional talents in arts and management. Due to lack of talents, XiLing Auction’s special auctions are still limited.
Artron.net: Several auction records were renewed in 2009 autumn auctions. Some collectors and investors believed that the bull market would come soon. What do you think of the gradual warming of the art market?
Mr. Lu: In fact, I always look at the art market from historical point of view. The turnover of one or two years cannot represent the whole market. Though Chinese art market started recovering after the Cultural Revolution, it was not ready until the establishment of the first auction house in 1993. In this sense, Chinese art market has just developed for 16 years. Of course, rapid progress often brings negative effects. Market bubble is inevitable, the point is how much. How can we tell the bull market of artwork is coming? I shall say universality of the artwork. The essence of auction houses is to spread culture and arts through auctions. Auction house works as a bridge to provide access of arts for average people. This is also the criterion to judge the market.
Artron.net: Recently, high prices were frequently seen in auctions of Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Is there still any room for pricing rising?
Mr. Lu: If we look at Chinese paintings and calligraphy from historical perspective, say, 50 years or a century, I think the current price of some paintings and calligraphy are still too low, while others are too high. It means that the market is still not mature. Simply, it depends on how you look at this issue.
Artron.net: What is your opinion on the globalization of Chinese art market?
Mr. Lu: Globalization of the auction house is a process of cultural dissemination. For collectors, it means Chinese collector has found its own position in the global market. Now Chinese is the majority of buyers of the Chinese artwork in the international auction houses. Besides, the involvement of contemporary arts is a sign of globalization. The globalization of Chinese art market is now the fastest. Certainly, it cannot do without the stability of politics and economy.
Artron.net: XiLing Auction will soon relocate to the former residence of last grand secretary of late Qing Dynasty. How did this idea come to you?
Mr. Lu: As we were looking for a place with cultural atmosphere, we found this ideal residence. The relocation means a new stage for us. If we have not achieved such a progress, we would not think about moving to a larger office building and Hangzhou Municipal Government would not use this building as an office building neither. The relocation means recognition of our business culture.
Artron.net: What is the blueprint of XiLing Auction in the next five years?
Mr. Lu: We will still stick to our principle and try to increase the category and turnover. Globalization is our goal, so is the promotion of Chinese culture to the world.
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