Mainland Chinese art collectors have always been intimidated by Picasso's famous paintings that easily cost tens of millions of U.S. dollars. But at the upcoming December 3rd Beijing "Entering China -- Western artistic masters' exhibition" one Picasso's painting will have a listed price of only US$25,000.

"The gems of Western art are not far from us. Owning one of the Western master's works is not that difficult." One of the art exhibition organizers, Beijing Huachen Auctions general manager Gan Xuejun made these remarks passionately. "Neither of Picasso's paintings to be auctioned this time is that expensive. One is priced only at US$25,000, the other at US$39,500."

It was learned that the scale of this exhibition is not large. It will include only 24 paintings by the likes of masters such as Picasso, Renoir and Chagall with a total value of US$5 million. "As an exhibition showing Western paintings that can all be bought, this would be the first time ever on mainland China."

Organizers said that all the paintings of the exhibition would be supplied by a US gallery, which is a top-ranked art supplier. To expand its China market as well as taking into consideration the level of Chinese mainland art collectors, the gallery intends to price its products below international market levels. The most expensive would be Chagall's Flora in Parisian Sky, priced at a mere US$1.25 million.

It was learned that due to the attraction of low prices, three to four paintings have been reserved by collectors even before the exhibition starts, but organizers refused to reveal more details. Staff of Huachen Auctions said jokingly, "Maybe on the date the exhibition begins, all the painting would have "SOLD" signs and turn into a real exhibition-only show."

(Chinanews.cn November 25, 2005)