From 14th-17th September 2017, Lugano Exhibition Centre will be hosting the second edition of WOPART – Work on Paper Fair, an international fair focusing on artworks made of paper, directed by Luigi Belluzzi.

62 galleries from 11 countries – chosen by a scientific committee chaired by Giandomenico Di Marzio, a journalist, critic and contemporary art curator, and Paolo Manazza, a painter and journalist specializing in art economics – will offer an extensive overview of works made exclusively on paper: everything from ancient drawings and modern prints to artists’ books, artistic photography, watercolors, Oriental prints and paper works by contemporary artists, providing a cross-section of different techniques, languages and periods in history. Following the success of the first edition, this important event is back again to provide a deeper understanding of artworks on paper and the market for them, a niche that is globally attracting more and more attention from experts, collectors and fans, due to both their accessible price range (for example, over 60% of contemporary drawings sold in 2016 cost less than $5000, meaning that works by well-known artists are available at much lower prices than usual) and the number of works on sale, due to the growing popularity of photography and appreciation in the value of art prints.

WOPART also includes a wide range of side events, both inside and outside the fair pavilions, to provide even more means and opportunities to find out about the various aspects of this sector and its most cutting-edge topics and issues.
The schedule of events being hosted inside Lugano Exhibition Centre notably includes the WOPART/TALKS: conversations, interviews and special lectures by artists, art historians and critics, consultants and specialists in art investments – featuring the artists Paolo Canevari, Emilio Isgrò, Joseph Kosuth, the art collectors Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and Massimo Prelz, and scholars like the neuroscientist Edoardo Boncinelli and philosopher Lina Bertola, – providing the chance for leading international exponents from the art world and market to talk about their experiences, personal backgrounds and studies. Once again, this year the WOPART/TALKS will be streamed on the event’s website (www.wopart.eu).

The fair’s exhibition project will also include four focus exhibitions, again hosted inside the fair’s main pavilions: a photography exhibition called “1930 – 1970: la fotografia d’avanguardia in Italia della collezione Prelz”, curated by Walter Guadagnini and CAMERA, the Italian Photography Centre in Turin; an exhibition entitled “I mille volti del kabuki”, presenting a collection of ukiyo-e prints from the Museum of Cultures in Lugano; an exhibition of paper works and artists’ books from the collections belonging to Luigi Pecci Contemporary Art Centre in Prato; and, lastly, an installation by the artist Emilio Isgrò (famous for his erasure technique). Three installations by Container Lab on display in via Nassa, Lugano, will provide a foretaste of the 2017 edition of WOPART during the weeks leading up to the event.

WOPART is organized by Lobo Swiss, under the patronage of the City of Lugano and Rimimi Design Biennial, CAMERA – Italian Photography Centre in Turin, SBF+ Association of Swiss Professional Photographers and Photo-designers. Sponsors of WOPART 2017: ARGOS Wealth Administration, Etihad Regional, The View Lugano. Official Wine: Consorzio Franciacorta. Main media partner: La Lettura-Corriere della Sera. Other media partners: ArtsLife, Ticino Welcome, Corriere del Ticino, Giornale del Popolo, Tele Ticino, Radio 3i, Ticino News, AI Magazine e Frattura Scomposta. Technical sponsors: Lugano Airport, BIG Broker Insurance Group – Ciaccio Arte, Simonetta Rota, Colombo Experience, Petra Peter.

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An exclusive masterpieces art fair with an high level cultured public.

“WOP ART” highlights is that we will inaugurate the first art fair dedicated to masterpieces Works on Paper (hence the acronym Wop).

This refined event will gather, in the Lugano Exhibition Centre Pavillons, a selection of international galleries exhibiting works on paper and specific projects from all periods of the art history, from old master to modern prints, from artist’s books to author’s photographs, from watercolors to Japanese paper.

A Vetting Scientific Committee (coordinated by Domenico Di Marzio and Paolo Manazza) will select the exhibitors and the works on display, they will coordinate events, intellectual and international meetings and important works on paper exhibitions.

This is a part of a starting cultural circuit around “WOP ART”.

For the first time ever,since the first edition, the Lugano Municipality has granted its patronage: this could happen thanks to the quality of the project and to the internationality and importance of the event.

In the last decade the attention on the art market, allowed the birth and the growth of a large number works on paper enthusiastic collectors. Important old masters, modern and contemporary works on paper will combine an high level quality together with affordable costs. An historical Picasso oil on canvas could cost between 30 and 100 million dollars.

His drawings would cost from 300.000 to 1 million and a half dollars.

It’s clear that the future development of this part of the market, will allow the growth of the art and the culture along with an intelligent diversification investement assets portfolios.

“WOP ART” is organized by Studio Lobo, the company that for over thirty years organized fairs and events around the world.

In Italy they organized the historical “Modenantiquaria” sold three years ago to the Bologna Fair Group.

As soon as possible will follow other press releases and press information.

Wop Art interested journalists can write to press@wopart.eu and they will be contacted very soon.