The sky is falling

A couple of years ago we posted on the copy painters of China. Even then they were into copying what seemed to us to be unlikely contemporary artists like On Kawara and we jokingly warned of the possibility of copies of NZ works being produced. Now, via a conveniently anonymous tip, we have heard rumours that paintings by a New Zealand artist have been commissioned in China for sale in New Zealand. Of course fakes are not new to the New Zealand art market but skilled copiers like those in China may well be able to turn out paintings that convince unsuspecting punters. Hopefully the authenticity sieve of our auction houses and dealers will save all but the foolhardy from a wetting.