Taiwan art draws buyer interest at Art International Zurich

台灣藝術品在蘇黎世國際藝術博覽會上吸引買家關注

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese artworks drew strong interest at Art International Zurich, even as galleries faced higher costs from war, tariffs, and rising shipping fees, CNA reported Monday.

The three-day fair opened Friday and brought together galleries, collectors, and art buyers from several countries. Art industry professionals said the event showed both the challenges of taking part in overseas fairs and the growing international interest in Taiwanese art.

“War, tariffs, and higher shipping costs have sharply increased the cost of taking part in international art fairs,” said Carina Chang (張惟婷), founder of the LEXPO international curatorial platform. She said individual artists once joined overseas fairs on their own, but the cost and risk are now much higher.

Chang said galleries must do more than pay for booths and shipping. They also need to help artists gain global exposure and build links with buyers through online and in-person channels.

Chang said Europe still has a strong culture of buying art as gifts. Birthdays, weddings, and the birth of a child all help support demand for artworks.

She said buyer interest remains strong in the European art market despite pressure from the global economy. “Taiwanese works shown on the fair’s opening day received strong attention, showing their ability to tell diverse stories and connect with the global contemporary art market,” she said.