Art collector turns to private sector to show his paintings
Video: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Polish art collector Zdzislaw Bieganski has turned to the private sector to help exhibit his 2,000-odd paintings after the Government found that a number of them may not be genuine.
Culture Ministry officials have been cataloguing Mr Bieganski’s collection for several months. But indications that some of the more famous pieces have not passed preliminary authenticity tests have reportedly led the officials to have cold feet.
“It seems the Government is only interested in the big-name paintings but I never cared who painted what or how much any single painting was worth. I am a collector, not a merchant. To hell with the money,” Mr Bieganski, 92, said emphatically.
He plans to leave his enormous collection to the self-named Bieganski Foundation, which would then display the pieces perman-ently in Malta.
The collection includes authenticated pieces by Pierre-Auguste Rénoir, Emile Bernard, Franci Picabbia, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Henry Cheffer and Marcel Cosson among hundreds of others, many of which have yet to be shipped to Malta and catalogued.
It also includes one of the largest known collections of Maltese art, with works by Gabriel Caruana, Pawl Carbonaro, Joe Genovese and Andrew Diacono running into the hundreds.
Foundation curator Ryan Pillow said they were disappointed with the way collaboration between them and the Government had soured in the recent past.
“Our vision was to create a museum to inspire up-and-coming artists, not a tourist magnet with big names plastered on the entrance.
“But I suppose we had different ideas...” he tailed off.
Culture Ministry officials have said it was too early to say whether they felt the Bieganski collection merited exhibition, and have reserved judgement until their cataloguing exercise has been completed.
But with Mr Pillow saying they had not heard from the authorities in “over eight weeks”, the found-ation is now looking at alternative ways of exhibiting the collection through private-sector support.
Mr Pillow was especially irked by the way in which the authorities had sought to verify paintings. “Not a single expert analysed a painting in the flesh. They were all sent digital photos snapped by two local analysts. All you can tell from a photograph is whether or not a painting is part of an artist’s established catalogue.
“All throughout, the perception was: ‘If it’s not a big-name painting, then we’re not interested ’. There are 2,000 paintings in the collection and well over 90 per cent are definitely authentic... But artistic merit isn’t measured in dollars or euros. Many of these paintings are marvellous works of art in themselves.”
Mr Bieganski reflected on the past months. “I think the Government had high hopes when it started assessing my collection. But I never offered them anything which I had doubts about.”
He shifted in his chair. “I have to face the facts. I am old and I will die. This collection has given me joy for over 50 years and I want to share that. But I am interested in art, not names. And art is about soul and beauty, not money.”
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
No appeals board for first part of power...
21 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Giuseppe Azzopardi
Oct 28th 2012, 09:05
Again it is a very common practice and quite rewarding to have a Falso D'Autore .In order to be within the law if you are the Artist who made the copy you have to make a declaration and sign it not glued or written on a piece of paper but directly onto the canvas.But a very good Falsario makes these copies to make really good money!!And it is really a Booming trade at the moment.Be aware of these.
Giuseppe Azzopardi
Oct 27th 2012, 18:46
Having read all this I suggest that a few paintings be sold but remain as a Bequest .It is really difficult to be seperated from a painting after giving you pleasure for over 50 years.If I remember well from my student days at the National Museum these type of Bequests still exist.It is very unprofessional that you examine a photo and not the real artfact.A photo gives an indication not certainty
Joe Galea
Oct 27th 2012, 20:37
Couldn't these experts have been so convinced and the works so clearly not what they were proposed to be that they could be immediately dismissed ? I would not be surprised given Mr Bieganski's opinion about art.
Giuseppe Azzopardi
Oct 28th 2012, 08:29
Mr Galea if it is like you say that these paintings are a copy or total fakes then the experts should have said so from the first glimpse of the artifacts.Then it depends on what criteria you are evaluating these paintings.Is it how much they would fetch or simply for the pleasure of having a good painting and it stops there?It is not worth it to invest in housing 2000 paintings and no masterpiece
joseph saliba
Oct 27th 2012, 18:45
Only fools rush in.
A Mifsud
Oct 27th 2012, 14:42
Am i the only one who now suspects that Mr Bieganski has been taking the govt for a ride and the govt are right for not falling for this. Mr B's is talking differently now. Before it was all about how great his collection was and all the big names....now its all about "who cares who they were".
Ryan Pillow
Oct 27th 2012, 16:43
Dear Mr. Mifsud as curator of this collection I can guarantee you that Mr. B has the sole intention of displaying his collection for the benefit of the young up and coming artists and all art lovers. When Mr. B quotes " who cares who they were " he would be simply stating that, you don't have to be a world class artist and hold a high price on the international art market to be worthy for a spot.
D Borg
Oct 27th 2012, 13:26
I am looking forward to the name of the government official who is assuming responsibility over this decision (or rather undecision).
If none come forward, then the buck stops at Dr. Mario DeMarco.
P Azzopardi
Oct 27th 2012, 13:01
In my opinion , have it auctioned and donate all the money to puttinu or other foundations. That way , the money will go to ppl who really need it and not let some entity take ages to check the authenticity of the paintings.....ghax kollha jifhmu fl arti nahseb !!
Mr Evan Camilleri
Oct 27th 2012, 13:31
?!?!?! And let them rot in some millionaire's villa? better for them to be enjoyed by everyone
Eric Camilleri (Q)
Oct 27th 2012, 14:28
The art pieces are Mr Bieganski's property and he is rightly so not letting go of them. So from where did you get the idea of an auction or a donation ? He is not donating or giving them to anyone. His demand is for the Maltese Government to provide him with prime exhibiting space on a permanent basis. But it seems more complex than it looks, thus the impasse.
Mr Stephen Agius
Oct 27th 2012, 12:43
Hope all the Maltese will be able to enjoy these works- thanks Mr Bieganski
Joe Galea
Oct 27th 2012, 20:41
I did get to see a selection of works from this collection displayed at the National Library. Not impressed at all .. I don't blame Government at all for taking its time.
Narcy Calamatta
Oct 27th 2012, 12:09
"Art is about soul and beauty, not money." Last night at the opening of an art event, Art Recylces Art, at the Splendid Cultural Incubator Centre in Strait Street, Valletta, I echoed these exact words to our audience. I invite Mr Bieganski and Mr Pillow to come to visit Joseph Barbara's installations, and his retrospective of paintings. Yes NGO's like us, FTZ and ZARARTI, can work, with love.
Victor Pulis
Oct 27th 2012, 12:07
If half the collection turns out to be genuine it would be worth exhibiting. the analysis could go on and pictures found to be fakes would be labeled accordingly. But we're talking about art here not some hair brained project.
Victor Pulis
Oct 27th 2012, 12:06
Mr. Bieganski shoild have offered the government a plan for a yacht marina or a bridge. I'm sure the gaovernment would have jumped on the offer.
“Not a single expert analysed a painting in the flesh. They were all sent digital photos snapped by two local analysts.
What self respecting 'expert'would analyse a work of art simply by looking at digital photos?!
Joseph Bartolo
Oct 27th 2012, 11:55
The Government's attitude reminds me of a girl I used to date many years ago.
Whenever I used to give her some ceramic or other gift, she would always first try to establish the value of the gift. For instance for a ceramic piece, she would look at the bottom to see if it was Doulton or whatever.
Needless to say we did not stay together for very long and I pity the guy who has her today.
Eric Camilleri (Q)
Oct 27th 2012, 11:19
Mr Bieganski’s statement is a reality check were society's battle between moral values and money is never ending and one cannot do without the other. “I have to face the facts. I am old and I will die. This collection has given me joy for over 50 years and I want to share that. But I am interested in art, not names. And art is about soul and beauty, not money."
Mr Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Oct 27th 2012, 11:13
The solution Mr Bieganski is very simple: forget foundations and leave the collection to the people of Malta provided it is exhibited. Asking the government for a property worth millions in which to house the collection while retaining ownership in a foundation over which the government has not got complete control is a tall order..................
S. Azzopardi
Oct 27th 2012, 11:05
I agree with Mr Bieganski that art is not about names but talent. I sure hope that his wish comes true and that all Maltese people will be able to enjoy these works.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Oct 27th 2012, 11:04
Get a grant from EU funds. Keep the collection and put it on view against an entry fee. Our governments have little interest in anything of real national value. Just look at how they treated Valletta.
Please choose the reason of your report below: