The Paper's senior reporter Zou Juan
Since the expo last year, the imported artworks exhibited and traded at the expo are exempted from 14.13% import tariff and import value-added tax, and each institution is limited to 5 pieces of transaction.
On November 1, the surging news (www.thepaper.cn) reporter learned that the fourth China International Import Expo for the first time in the service trade exhibition area to create a "cultural relics and artworks plate". Thanks to the tax exemption policy, the total declared value of the sector this year is 2.35 billion yuan, and the international trading platform for works of art is also taking shape.
Customs unpacking and inspection. Photo by Zheng Feng
Zhang Daqian's 1948 works borrowed from the Expo to "go home"
On the afternoon of October 29, a world-famous painting tightly packed in wooden boxes was slowly pushed into the bonded service center by the staff, and after they put on white gloves and carefully unpacked the box, the work "Weijiang" by Zhang Daqian, the most legendary Chinese painting master in the 20th century, slowly revealed its full picture.
This work was created by Zhang Daqian in 1948. At that time, he traveled to Qingcheng with his wife Xu Wenbo and his female disciple Ye Mingpei to create a group of 8 works, titled "Rope Bridge", "Leaving the Pile", "Qingcheng Mountain", "Gaotai Mountain", "Zhangrenfeng", "Tianshi Cave", "Old Man Estate" and this one "Weijiang". Unfortunately, most of the works in this group are unknown, and they are only included in the "Zhang Daqian Painting Collection" published in 1967 and compiled by Gao Lingmei, and only two paintings are still in the public, "Old Man Estate" and "Weijiang", which show their preciousness.
Yang Jun, deputy director of Sotheby's and an expert in contemporary art appreciation and consulting, told reporters that Zhang Daqian's works returned this time thanks to the "5 pieces of tax exemption" policy of the Expo.
Yang Jun introduced Zhang Daqian's work "Wei Jiang". Photo by Zheng Feng
The "5 pieces of tax exemption" in Yang Jun's mouth refers to the policy of duty-free entry of cultural relics exhibits within 5 pieces of cultural relics exhibits that made important breakthroughs during the third session of the Expo last year. A year ago, in order to promote the return of overseas Chinese cultural relics, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued a notice that during the Expo exhibition period, each exhibitor selling works of art, collectibles and antiquities exhibits can enjoy preferential tax policies of up to 5 pieces.
Li Jing, deputy director of the Cultural Relics Department of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics, revealed that the "5 pieces of tax exemption" means that the cultural relics artworks of overseas institutions have the opportunity to be exhibited and sold in China under the exemption of 14.13% import tariff and import value-added tax. The Ciie is also the only platform in China to enjoy this policy.
It is reported that at present, 20 overseas institutions in 11 countries and regions such as the United Kingdom and Spain have confirmed their participation in the cultural sector of the service trade exhibition area of the fourth CIIE, and important auction houses in the world such as Christie's, Sotheby's and Fergus' have been presented for the first time.
Zhang Daqian's "Wei Jiang". Courtesy of Sotheby's
"Pumpkin" entry: I knew it was big, I didn't expect it to be so big
Not long ago, Kusama Yayoi's large-scale sculpture "Pumpkin" became the first bonded display artwork to enter the venue at this year's Expo. Pan Andy, assistant general manager of the international trade department of Shanghai Free Trade Zone International Culture Investment and Development Co., Ltd., received a notice a month ago, and the intuitive challenge came.
The installation and protection manual sent by the customer shows that the piece is more than 3 meters long, wide and high, and the package weight is 1320 kg. "It has a very strict set of installation requirements, and we start rehearsing the operation process a month in advance." Pan Andy said.
However, having said that, when he actually saw the big pumpkin, Pan Andy was still surprised: "I know that the work is big, but the real thing is really too big." Fortunately, we have world-class hardware facilities, there are super large unloading platforms, 8 meters high transit warehouses, large unloading plazas, large freight elevators with a carrying capacity of 9 tons, and professional operations, which can 100% ensure the safety of works. ”
Pan Andy said that before the works are put into storage, they carry out secondary sterilization of the works, from loading the car in the warehouse, completing a series of inspection procedures, to passing through the customs bayonet, and then to the scene of the Expo, the whole process is completed within 24 hours. At the Expo, it is necessary to eliminate and check again.
"Because the works after installation are huge, they must be transported to the expo site for installation, otherwise the works cannot enter the venue at all." Therefore, it is necessary to transport the works into the exhibition hall in advance, or even enter the booth in advance to place them, otherwise they will not be able to operate in the later stage. After entering the museum, our team is specially cared for every day, 48 hours in turn for nucleic acid inspection, and daily video and photo upload clients, so that customers can be 100% assured of the needs of the works throughout the process. I am very much looking forward to the day when this pumpkin will be officially unveiled at the fourth CIIE. Pan Andy said.
International art institutions seek two-way exchanges
"This is not only our company's first time to participate in the Expo, but also the debut in China, and we attach great importance to it." Zheng Yan, head of HENI Art China, said.
The foreign art institution entered the Chinese market for the first time this year, bringing the works of heavyweight international artist Damien Hirst to the Expo. Before entering the Expo, 10 works by Damien Hurst had been "nailed" to the wall of the first FTZ Art Season, including the cloth (butterfly and household bright lacquer) work "I Always Belong to You".
"These works are really rare to appear in the public eye. Maybe you will see some sporadically at auction before, but this time the meaning is different, we bring 3 international artists who have been working together for a long time, representative works from different periods, almost including the artist's entire artistic career. "Zheng Yan said that what they value is not only tax-free transactions, but more importantly, the two-way exchange of international art." We hope to be able to participate in the Chinese art market and promote the prosperity of the art market. ”
Sotheby's will exhibit Claude At the Expo Claude Monet, Little Ellie's Cape. Courtesy of Sotheby's
Alberto Giacometti's "Bust of Deiago" will be unveiled at the Expo. Courtesy of Sotheby's
The surging news (www.thepaper.cn) reporter learned that the number and quality of cultural relics and artworks displayed and sold at the fourth CIIE will be greatly improved compared with the previous session. At present, 20 overseas institutions from 11 countries and regions such as the United Kingdom and Spain have confirmed their participation in the cultural sector of the service trade exhibition area of the Fourth CIIE, Christie's, Sotheby's, Ferguson and other important auction houses in the world have been presented for the first time, and overseas art institutions such as Heyi Art that have entered the Chinese market for the first time this year will also bring heavyweight international artists to the Expo. A total of 178 exhibits were declared in the cultural relics and artworks section of the Service Trade Zone of this expo, with a total declared value of 2.35 billion yuan, all of which were provided by the bonded service center to provide one-stop service for the whole chain of cultural relics and artworks circulation.
Editor-in-Charge: Chen Yue
Proofreader: Yan Zhang