Valuation Summary 📝

To ensure the competitiveness of the investment, we conducted a thorough verification of the purchase price by analyzing recent gallery transactions. Our analysis confirmed that the price offered, inclusive of all associated fees, is highly competitive. To estimate the potential ROI, we used the average annual price increase of the paintings over the past five years and factored in the potential of additional growth due to the international representation that will only start soon. For our conservative scenario, we assumed the value of the painting would grow at the rate of Swiss inflation, reflecting a defensive approach. In the balanced scenario, we calculated the average growth of primary market prices over the past 5 years and added 33% of the expected additional growth due to the international representation. Finally, in the ambitious scenario, we calculated the average growth of the primary market prices over the past 5 years and added 100% of the expected additional growth due to the international representation.

Exit Options at Maturity 🚪

We will manage the exit strategy in collaboration with our expert M&A Arts on behalf of our investors, ensuring the best possible outcome based on market conditions at the time. Depending on the prevailing market situation, the paintings will be sold to a private collector or offered as single lots at an auction for contemporary art. An auction is considered if the price has developed to the point where the minimum bid matches the market value and there is high demand for works by the artist. Both options are carefully considered, and we will choose the one that maximizes the return for our investors.

Why Invest in This Category? 🎨

For centuries, art was collected for its cultural, emotional, intellectual, political, and economic value. Investing in emerging artists offers a mix of financial potential and personal satisfaction, making it an appealing option for both new and seasoned collectors.

Why Invest in This Asset? 💎

Investing in Jon Merz's artwork presents a compelling opportunity due to his strong historical performance and future growth potential. Over the past five years, the prices of his 200 x 150 cm paintings have more than doubled, increasing from CHF 7,000 in 2020 to CHF 15,000 in 2024, showcasing a 114% rise. This trend is supported by Merz’s expanding market presence, with numerous solo and group exhibitions, including a prestigious show at Château de Gruyères and an upcoming exhibition at Galerie Lange + Pult. Moreover, a forthcoming collaboration with a major international gallery is expected to elevate his profile globally, driving further price appreciation. Merz’s recognition has been bolstered by awards and nominations, including being a finalist for the 2024 Swiss Art Awards. With increasing demand from both collectors and institutions, and his growing accessibility in new markets, his work represents a significant investment with strong potential for continued appreciation.

Description about this asset 🖼️

Jon Merz is a Swiss Postwar & Contemporary artist who was born in 1981 in Neuchâtel. Merz, who lives in Berlin and Basel, trained at the Bern University of the Arts and the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts. He has been exhibiting his work in Switzerland and abroad over ten years. He can almost be seen as a painter with an easel and a summer hat in the outdoors, almost as if he were a 19th-century Impressionist. However, the paintings depicted in his immediate surroundings resemble Expressionism and occasionally Symbolism. The works appear classically styled, almost in the manner of Old Masters, showing a strong art historical influence. Much of it feels somewhat familiar, yet at the same time, it is extremely surprising and refreshing, especially when one is aware of the artist’s earlier work, such as his monochrome-painted wooden cubes from the early 2010s or his constructions made from plywood boards, steel rods, and other materials from hardware stores. These early pieces, which fluctuate between paintings and early objects, evoke movements like Post-Minimalism and the Conceptual Art of the 1970s, as well as Hard Edge or Color Field painting. They also recall German artists like Joseph Beuy’s students Imi Knoebel and Blinky Palermo. Like them, Merz emerges as a new representative of constructivist, non-objective art – a kind of Constructivism 3.0. So how can this seemingly strong transformation be explained? Merz has always focused on the spiritual and intellectual aspects of art. He studied industrial design in Paris and then art in Bern, Berlin and Hamburg. In modernism, it was evident that some sought the spiritual in the clarity of geometry, while others found it in the lyrical and expressive. It seems that Merz, spurred by a recent engagement with illustration, graphics, and craftsmanship, has now landed on the other side – the side of the passionate, vibrant visual artist who pours his heart into his work. The artist was nominated for the Swiss Art Awards 2024 and has benefited from several residencies. In 2024 alone, he has been featured in five shows, including the museum-quality exhibition at Château de Gruyères, which runs until October 27th and showcases the three paintings of this offering.
Merz's work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and art shows, and institutions, such as the Bern Cantonal Bank, have begun acquiring his pieces.

Solo Shows:

• 2024 “Le Jardin d’Eau“, Château de Gruyères, Gruyères, Switzerland – Ongoing until October 27, 2024
• 2022 “Berlin am Meer”, Lokal-int, Bienne, Switzerland
• 2021 “Sohn des Glücks”, Espace Sauvage, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 2018 “Parade de Monstres”, Smallville Space, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
• 2018 “No regrets”, Benzene, Hamburg, Germany
• 2017 “Sonntag”, Espace Labo, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2016 “The fool on the Hill”, Córtex Frontal, Arraiolos, Portugal
• 2014 “Blue”, Galerie Milieu, Bern, Switzerland
• 2012 “Gegenschlag im Zentrum”, Center, Berlin, Germany

Selected Group Shows:

• 2024 Galerie Lange + Pult, Auvernier, Switzerland – Upcoming in November
• 2024 “Berlin Group Show”, Nizza Berlin (Cooperation Space), Berlin, Germany
• 2024 “Votive”, Hyphastudios, London, United Kingdom
• 2024 “Swiss Art Awards”, Basel, Switzerland
• 2024 “Summer Show”, Galerie Mighela Shama, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2023 “The Painting Academy”, Galerie Polomarco, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2021 “Plus est en vous”, Art Môtiers 2021, Môtiers, Switzerland
• 2021 “Corona Call”, Kunstraum Kreuzlingen, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland
• 2019 “Cantonale Bern Jura”, Kunsthauslangenthal, Langenthal, Switzerland
• 2019 “Snack”, Galerie Lange + Pult, Auvernier, Switzerland
• 2018 “Juleutstillingen”, Billedgalleri, Haugesund, Norway
• 2018 “Toxic BoomRoom”, Benzene, Hamburg, Germany
• 2018 “Jahresaustellung”, Hochschule der Künste, Hamburg, Germany
• 2017 “Festivalfangst”, Haugesund, Norway
• 2017 “Poly Eck Dings”, Benzene, Hamburg, Germany
• 2017 “Masteraustellung”, Hochschule der Künste, Hamburg, Germany
• 2016 “Rundgang”, Hochschule der Künste, Hamburg, Germany
• 2015 “Old Friends New Ideas - Old Ideas New Friends”, Galerie Milieu, Bern, Switzerland
• 2015 “Going places”, Salon Mondial, Basel, Switzerland
• 2015 “Swiss art awards”, Art Basel. Basel, Switzerland
• 2014 “Space is the place”, IAAB, Berlin, Germany
• 2014 “Cantonale Bern Jura”, Kunsthaus Langenthal, Switzerland
• 2014 “Regionale”, Kunstverein Freiburg, Switzerland

Awards and grants:

• 2024 Finalist of Swiss Art Awards
• 2015 Nominee for the Swiss Art Prize
• 2014 Scholarship holder of the international exchange and studio program Basel region (IAAB)
• 2013 Nominee for the Swiss Art Prize
• 2010 Contribution to the patronage fund for young Swiss artists, Kunsthalle Basel
• 2008 Exchange program of the Association of Icelandic Artists (SÍM), two months residency in Reykjavik and Skagaströnd, Iceland. Art in public space and writing of bachelor thesis
• 2005 Winner of a scholarship, residency in New York City

Context in Time ⏳

Emerging artists often sell their works at more affordable prices compared to established names. If the artist gains recognition over time, the value of their art can increase significantly, offering substantial returns on your investment.

Conclusion 🎯

Investing in Jon Merz's artwork combines cultural significance with strong growth potential. His rising global profile, marked by numerous exhibitions and upcoming international gallery representation, positions his work for substantial price appreciation. The combination of his unique artistic style and expanding international reach makes this a promising investment opportunity with both cultural and financial returns.

For the sale, the following two options are being considered:

• Private Sale: The painting is offered directly to private collectors of Choi Myoung Young's works.
• Auction: The painting will be offered as a single lot at an auction for contemporary art. This option is considered if the price has developed to the point where the minimum bid matches the market value and there is high demand for works by the artist.

Why Invest in Choi Myoung-Young?

Choi Myoung-Young is a leading figure in the Dansaekhwa movement and contemporary Korean art. Dansaekhwa, which translates as “monochrome painting,” was formalized in the 1970s in reference to Korean artists who redefined abstract painting in reaction to a turbulent socio-political environment.

Formative Years and Artistic Influences

Born in Haeju, Hwanghae-do, in 1941, Young defected to South Korea during the Korean War and grew up in Gunsan and Incheon. In 1957, he began studying art at Incheon National School of Education under master artist Chung Sanghwa, after which he entered the Hongik University College of Fine Arts in 1960 to study painting.

Evolution of Methodology and Style

After graduating from college in 1964, Young spent the remainder of the decade as a member of the art groups Origin Society (1963–1993), Korean Avant-Garde Association (A.G., 1970–1973), and École de Seoul (1975–1999), and participated in the likes of the Paris Biennale (1967) and São Paulo Biennale (1969) to set his foot in the art scene as an emerging artist.
Since the mid-1970s, Young has persistently explored using his body and the relationship between the canvas plane and the medium of paint under the theme of “Conditional Planes,” repeating and varying physical actions on top of the flat surface to understand painterly existence. In the mid-1970s, the artist produced what are known today as the “Sandpaper” and “Fingerprint” series.
Throughout the mid-1980s and the 1990s, Young’s repetitive movements took on vertical and horizontal orientations to settle as his unique methodology and style.

"Monotonous" Works

Young often uses the expression “monotonous” to describe his works. Creating superficial space composed of regular units—by performing repetitive actions within the frame of the blank, quadrilateral canvas—can be seen as a daily act of validating existence. The canvas as a background no longer distinguishes or restrains art and life. Just as the body and the mind are no longer subjects for distinction, the conditional plane is now an existential “platform,” an infinite space that serves to intertwine and reveal the artist’s repetitive actions. This is precisely why Young’s creative world is a demonstration of “controlling monotony,” something that ceaselessly flows toward infinite variations.

His work is held in several permanent museum collections including:

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
Busan Museum of Art, Busan, Korea
Daegu Art Museum, Daegu, Korea
Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, Korea
Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, Korea
Shimonoseki City Art Museum, Shimonoseki, Japan
Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Mie, Japan
Hong-Ik Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
Posco Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea
Gidang Art Museum, Jeju-do, Korea
Walker Hill Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
Ho-Am Art Center, Yongin, Korea
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, Korea
Leeum Art Museum, Korea, Korea

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2024
Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, “Choi Myoung Young”, Tokyo, Japan
The Page Gallery, TEFAF New York, New York, USA

2023
Almine Rech, “Choi Myoung Young: Conditional Planes”, Paris Matignon, Paris, France
Art Chosun Space (ACS), Seoul, Korea

2022
Gallery Bisunjae, “Choi Myoung Young: Conditional Planes”, Seoul, Korea
The Page Gallery, “Choi Myoung Young”, Seoul, Korea

2019
The Page Gallery, “Choi Myoung Young: Conditional Planes II”, Seoul, Korea

2017
Gallery Shilla,“Choi Myoung Young”, Daegu, Korea

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2024
Almine Rech, Art Basel Paris, Paris, France (Upcoming: October 18-20, 2024)
Tokyo Gallery, Art Bael Paris, Paris, France (upcoming: October 18-20, 2024)
Almine Rech, Frieze Seoul, Seoul, Korea (upcoming: September 4-7, 2024)
Tokyo Gallery, Frieze Seoul, Seoul, Korea (upcoming: September 4-7, 2024)
Shinsegae Gallery, “Contemplation”, Seoul, Korea
Hammer Museum, “Only the Young Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s”, Los Angeles, USA
Hoban Cultural Foundation, “Resonance of the Times”, Seoul, Korea
Gallery Shilla, “Winter Collections In Daegu”, Daegu, Korea

2023
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,“Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s”, NY, USA
Hakojae Gallery, “Eui-geum-sang-gyeong: Over her embroidered robe she puts on a plain garment”, Seoul, Korea
Space21, “Avant-Garde group 1965 – 1975”, Seoul, Korea

2021
The Page Gallery, ”Chusa Kim, Ufan Lee, Choi Myoung Young, Choi In-soo”, Seoul, Korea

2018
Puerta Roja Gallery, “Reflections – Celebrating Eight Years of Cross-Cultural Collaboration”, Hong Kong
The Page Gallery, “A to P (A letter from the new Page)”, Seoul, Korea
Gallery Shilla, “Black Selections”, Daegu, Korea

2017
Museum San, “Looking into Korean Art Part2: Dansaekhwa”, Wonju, Korea
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, “Rhythm in Monochrome Korean Abstract Painting”, Tokyo, Japan

Conditional Planes

Series symbolizes Young’s artistic journey throughout his work, since the 1970s. This style emphasizes the flat surface of the canvas, aligning him with the Dansaekhwa paintings, which are characterized by geometric, simple, clear lines and forms in primary colors. Young’s particular style in this era was based on the idea of the creation and extinction of traces on canvas by using fingerprint and sandpaper. 

For the sale, the following two options are being considered:

• Private Sale: Private sales are likely preferred if a suitable buyer is found and the investment returns are satisfactory, with the medium-term horizon providing ample opportunity to explore interests and consider community offers, while ongoing market growth and increasing demand for unique, well-designed items suggest that successful outcomes are expected within 3-5 years with minimal effort.

• Auction: The card will be offered as individual lots at an auction for sport trading cards such as Heritage Auctions. This option will be considered if the price has developed to the point where the minimum bid meets the market value and the demand for sport cards is high.

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Historical Context and Market Impact

Prizm’s dominance in the Panini era stems from its high selling prices for top rookies, popular players, and GOATs. Additionally, the brand is popular for producng a large number of base and silver parallel cards in top grades, which also hold significant value collectively and featured prominently in collerctors of all levels. The highest-selling Prizm card to date is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s, which sold for $1.14 million. Notably, Brady’s first year Prizm Base 1/1 and Luka Dončić’s Prizm Base Black 1/1 RC have yet to be discovered, but they are expected to fetch even higher prices. The top sales for Prizm Gold cards of LeBron James, Lionel Messi and Tom Brady have reached $571,000, $522,000, and $264,000 respectively, setting the market's current ceiling for these three sports.

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Summary: A Truly Special Investment

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