Millions spent on art over five years

ISTANBUL

Over the last five years between 2011 and 2015, Turkey has imported $223 million worth of artifacts, collection items and antiques. 

Artifacts, which many have great interest in as an investment tool, began drawing the attention of Turkish art lovers in recent years. As interest has increased in art, a large amount of money has been spent on various artifacts during auctions in Turkey and around the world. 

According to data provided by the Turkish Statistics Institute, Turkey imported art pieces worth a total of $41.5 million in 2011. This number was $40.8 million in 2012, $50 million in 2013, $55 million in 2014 and $35.6 million in 2015. The total amount imported over the last five years was worth $223 million. 


As for the sub categories of imported artifacts, out of the $35.6 million of art that was bought last year, hand-made paintings ranked first with $17.5 million. 

It was followed by original sculptures, totaling $10.1 million out of the total, and antiques worth $4 million.
 
England was on top of the countries from where Turkey imported artworks last year. The amount of imported artifacts from England was $8.4 million. The United States and France followed England with $7 million each, and Germany with $3.3 million. 

Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and China were the other countries important for art, with Turks spending more than $1 million in art pieces from these countries. 


Prestigious investments

Knowledge, love and interest form the basis of art collecting and people from every walk of life can become artwork buyers. Having one or more artworks is prestigious. Art is also a great investment. 

Money spent on a painting or a sculpture is not affected by economic fluctuations. Art can be kept and transferred easily. Its value does not decrease but increases all the time. In addition to visiting galleries and reading arts books, an art buyer needs an art consultant to make conscious decisions when buying an artwork. 

In Turkey, well-established families such as Koç, Sabancı and Eczacıbaşı lead the way in buying artworks and sharing them with the public during exhibitions. Renowned galleries around Turkey also help to spread the knowledge and love of art.