The surprise of the year: Anicka Yi

Born in South Korea in 1971, Anicka Yi makes art with living organisms. After five years of working with organic products, such as worms and bacteria, 2015 marked a milestone for her. After a residency at the MIT, she became interested in the culturing of microorganisms. In March, at The Kitchen (Chelsea, New York), she displayed an artwork made with bacteria extracted from samples belonging to one hundred women linked to the art world. In June, she presented a sensorial installation made with flowers and microorganisms at the Kunsthalle Basel. The result? An olfactory experience, both unpleasant and sublime. Her work is very interesting, quite particular and new. 

The most influential living artists of 2015

According to the Art websites, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman were the artists of the year. Each one became trend in their own media. Their work was included in the most important museums around the globe. They ruled the market and reached new spaces in the art world. However. they mainly stood out because of the influence they have in emerging artists. 

The resisting octogenarians

In spite of the gender inequality of the art world, two female artists of more than 80 years old tipped the scale in 2015: Yayoi Kusama and Yoko Ono. Kusama's spotty constructions toured the museums of the world, like Denmark's and USA's (and some time ago also Buenos Aires' MALBA). Ono's exhibition at the MoMA in New York gave her worthy recognition and will be part of MALBA's calendar in 2016.

Artists arrested because of their work

Every more often, artists focus on politics and social conflicts. The refugees of 2015 were part of many exhibitions, as for example "Migraciones" at the Museo del Inmigrante en Buenos Aires. Many artworks annoy authoritarian governments and retaliations are ordered against those who report the injustices. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and Cuban artist Tania Bruguera were arrested in their home countries and could not attend their artistic events abroad. Weiwei was almost late for the opening of his retrospective at the Royal Academy. Bruguera had issues in her country because of a performance  promoting freedom of speech in Havana and which had to be presented at the Performance Biennial in Buenos Aires. 

The most expensive artworks

"Les Femmes d’Alger" by Pablo Picasso was auctioned by Christie’s in New York for U$S 179,4 M on May 11th, 2015.

Amedeo Modigliani surprised the market with his "Nu couché", auctioned by Christie's for U$S 170,4 M. The new owner is Liu Yiqien, a former taxi driver who became millionaire and already has many artworks in his collection. 

The third most expensive artwork was "L’homme au doigt" by Alberto Giacometti, auctioned also by Christie's in May for U$S 141,3 M. The bronze work became the second sculpture by Giacometti valued more than 100 M.

The installation of the year in Buenos Aires

La Menesunda, the installation created in 1965 by Marta Minujín, with Rubén Santantonín, was recreated once again at the Museo de Arte Moderno in Buenos Aires.