We were contacted by Nadia Ovchinnikova on 3rd March 2008 with respect to posting their exhibition competition details on Artists UK DotNet under our Opportunties section. The exhibition competition is being run by Mr. Evgeny Yukhnytsya, the owner of Castle Reaux, who is apparently a well-known poet from the Ukraine (although a Google search on Yukhnytsya gives nothing on him that was not written by his own staff).
We have recently received emails from an artist’s agent in Florida, USA and artists in Europe concerned about the legitimacy of this offer. We are currently discussing the issues with Nadia Ovchinnikova at Castle Reaux with a view to clarifying the terms of their offer and the auditing of the competition. If you are an artist who has submitted a painting to Château des Réaux we would like to hear from you, especially if you are based in the UK. Whether your feedback is positive or negative please leave a comment here. Even if you have not submitted work then you can still leave your comments here but please mention that you have not submitted work.
1S.Seshadri on Apr 9, 2008 at 12:52 pm:
I have received an invitation from Ms Nadia Ovchinnikova today(9th April2008) for participitating in the said exhibition.
I am an Indian and live in Mumbai.
Kindly advise me on the situation.
Thank you.
best regards
S.Seshadri
2Artists UK on Apr 9, 2008 at 1:43 pm:
Please check back here regularly as we intend to post information as we have it.
3Paddi Clay on Apr 10, 2008 at 8:07 am:
The advert for the Chateau des Reaux competition appeared in one of our papers - The Times - this week in Jhb. it is interesting that this advert is appearing in the non-European countries.
It aroused my curiousity as a journalist and I am looking into it. Including how payment was made for the rather large advert.
4Artists UK on Apr 10, 2008 at 9:30 am:
Please keep us informed of your investigations by posting comments here. We are still waiting for more detailed information from the organiser regarding who the judges are and how the competition and award of prizes is to be audited. We consider the 305 Euros to be paid for full title transfer on an original oil painting of any decent quality to be extremely low. However, this is clear from their contract and each artist has to decide for themselves how they feel about this. Our main concerns are the lack of information available on Mr. Evgeny Yukhnytsya and the lack of information available on the competition.
5Stefan Maguran on Apr 24, 2008 at 1:27 am:
Membres du Jury 1) Evgueny Yukhnytsya – Poète, Propriétaire du château des Réaux. 2) Conseil Général d’Indre et Loire, Région Centre, France (son représentant). 3) Yves Lemogne – Maire de Chouzé sur Loire, commune de la Vallée de la Loire, où le Château des Réaux est situé. France. 4) Francis Parent – Critique d’art, membre de l’AICA (Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art), Paris. 5) un Commissaire-priseur habilité (en pourparlers ; Mtre Pierre Cornette de St Cyr, Membre de la Maison de ventes Cornette de St Cyr, Paris).
This is from an add on artconcours.com
6Artists UK on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:31 am:
Thank you for your comment Stefan. Strange since they were so adamant they wanted the names kept as a “surprise”. As you can see, as long as you read French, Francis Parent is the only one whose place on this jury is at all creditable. A websearch on him reveals he is a published art critic. It is surprising he is prepared to sit on a jury with people who do not appear to be of a similar professional standing.
7Emanuela Terragnoli on May 21, 2008 at 12:50 pm:
Goodmorning! Scusate se lascio il mio messaggio in lingua italiana. Stavo facendo delle ricerche riguardo questo invito dal Chateau des Réaux, che sembra sia stato esteso a tutti i pittori del mondo, quando ho trovato il vostro sito che parla appunto di questo misterioso concorso.
Sono stata anch’io invitata e mi sono insospettita perchè : 1. non esiste un interlocutore diretto, i contatti avvengono in automatico esclusivamente attraverso il sito del Chateau. 2. all’invio della mia risposta comprendente una foto del dipinto con la descrizione. Ho ricevuto a distanza di una settimana esclusivamente un messaggio di registrazione di ricevimento, sempre in automatico. 3. Sempre nel sito del Chateau des Rèaux, nella sezione che richiede di lasciare la descrizione del dipinto ho trovato una serie di Diplomi d’onore prestampati che riportano il nome dell’artista e ridicole motivazioni “d’onore” che non sono altro che le frasi stesse di ringraziamento da parte dei pittori per l’invito ricevuto, oltretutto con la possibilità di stampa da parte degli artisti stessi.
Ho pensato a questo punto ad una colossale beffa! Ed ho proseguito le mie ricerche cliccando in internet il nome di Francis Parent, nominato nel regolamento del concorso, quale membro della giuria. Ho inviato a questo Signore una mail chiedendo spiegazioni riguardo il punto 3. Ovviamente non ho ricevuto alcuna risposta. Senza contare che il cosiddetto poeta, proprietario del castello, Evgueny Yukhnytsya, non compare in nessun sito web, oltre a quello del castello; ne deduco che sia un emerito sconosciuto…. Si potrebbe contattare a questo punto il Sindaco del comune di Chouzé-sur-Loire per capire, intanto se lui, Sindaco, esiste davvero, e, in caso positivo se é al corrente di questa faccenda.
Se avete ulteriori informazioni al riguardo, vi sarei molto grata, se me le poteste comunicare. Nel frattempo il mio modesto parere rimane quello di un grande scherzo di cattivo gusto! Molti cordiali saluti
Emanuela Terragnoli, Verona, Italy
8Artists UK on May 21, 2008 at 1:13 pm:
Thank you Emanuela. I’m afraid Italian is not one of my languages even though I have visited Italy many times so I think it is I who should apologise. For other non-Italian speakers we have run Emanuela’s post through some translation software. As always with translation software the translation is pretty awful but it’ll give some idea what is being said -
Sorry if I leave my message in Italian. I was doing research on this invitation from Chateau des Réaux, who seems to have been extended to all painters of the world, when I found your site that speaks precisely this mysterious contest.
I was also invited and I declined because: 1. there is no direct contact, contacts are made automatically through the website of Chateau. 2. the sending of my answer includes a photo of the painting with the description. I received a distance of one week only a message of registration of receipt, again automatically. 3. Also at the site of Chateau des Rèaux, in the section that asks you to leave the description of the painting I found a number of diplomas of honour pre-bearing the name of the artist and ridiculous motivations “of honour” that are nothing more than phrases same thanksgiving by the painters for the invitation received, moreover, with the possibility of printing by the artists themselves.
I thought at this point to a colossal joke! And I continued my research on the Internet by clicking the name of Francis Parent, appointed to the rules of the competition, as a member of the jury. I sent this to the Lord a mail asking explanations about the point 3. Obviously I have not received any reply. Not to mention that the so-called poet, owner of the castle, Evgueny Yukhnytsya, does not appear in any website, in addition to the castle, they assume that this is an emeritus unknown…. You may contact at this point the Mayor of Chouzé-sur-Loire to understand, if he Meanwhile, Mayor, it really exists and, if so, whether it is aware of this issue.
If you have further information, there would be very grateful if me could communicate. In the meantime my humble opinion remains that of a great joke in bad taste! Many cordial greetings
Emanuela Terragnoli, Verona, Italy
9Emanuela Terragnoli on May 21, 2008 at 1:43 pm:
Thank you very much for your reply and translation. I think that is sufficiently clear. Best regards
Emanuela Terragnoli, Verona, Italy
10Maler on Jul 13, 2008 at 1:35 pm:
The domain of the Château des Réaux was registered anonymously only 8 months ago with only the information about the contest (well, contest might not be the right word as all paintings are accepted and paid). 305 Euros is not much for professional artists but the main entrants are hobby artists and for me it is hard to believe someone would pay 305 Euros for bad and worthless paintings of unkown hobby painters. And they were paid!
Have you any news?
11Artists UK on Jul 14, 2008 at 4:11 pm:
How do you know that worthless paintings of unknown hobby artists have been paid for their paintings? If they are buying all paintings regardless of quality that is rather strange ….
12Maler on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:55 am:
1. On the web there are already some amateur artist that are proudly stating that Charteau des Reaux had bought their paintings.
2. Also on a german forum some report that they sent their images via Email and all were accepted to the contest. As far as I understood some already were paid 305 Euros after sending their paintings.
For me that is absolutely dodgy! That is not how the market works! I don’t have the time but thought about it to fake a really bad image and see if they tell me to send it to them.
I can think of 3 possibilities:
1. All people of the world have suddenly have become fond of each other and give away money.
2. The now owner of the castle had cheaply bought or rent the castle with the constraints to build up a gallery and now he is in need of a lot of artworks quickly.
3. This is a large-scale fraud and by attracted as much unsuspecting people as possible they are actually take everyones artwork and even pay them.
Read the contract! The english and the german contract differ a bit. paragraph 2.2 is missing in the german contract!
But doesn’t it says that buy receiving the 305 Euros you have sold ALL the rights of ALL your artworks (not only the painting for the contest!). Paragraph 5.1 : “Piece of work” means any piece of work (paragraph 1.4) and agreed price means the 305 Euros for the contest painting. Not sure what they will do with that. Maybe they want to make money buy sueing you later.
But maybe I am just too overcautious and there is nothing to it but at least I would not risk it for 305 Euros (beside no professional artist would do that for such little price, only amateur artist would consider this as a good price, so for me it is clear that they are aiming for that rather clueless folks.
We will see….
13Artists UK on Jul 16, 2008 at 9:22 pm:
Yes, the artist is signing over ALL rights to the artwork and it looks from the contract as if Chateaux Des Reaux can even display or sell it without even quoting the name of the creator of the painting. We’re not quite sure on what basis Chateaux Des Reaux could sue the artist other than if the artist was breaching the Chateaux Des Reaux copyright afterwards by licencing the artwork for use elsewhere, which would of course be illegal after they have signed that contract with Chateaux Des Reaux. We’d be interested in the URL’s of where amateurs are boasting of their sale to Chateaux Des Reaux. We’d have a look for them ourselves but right now we are up to our necks in both retail and trade orders and we always believe our customers come first
14Jay on Aug 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm:
Well, I guess I’m one of those sad, loser hobby artists who are desperate for money and will do anything to gain same. Actually, I’m not any of those things. Well, I’m a bit short of the readies but not desperate. I submitted via email a jpeg of one of my paintings to the chateau and received an enthusiastic acceptance a few days later. I asked if payment could be prompt especially for the carriage and I received an extremely courteous phone call from Nadia assuring me that payment would be very prompt. It was, both for the painting and the carriage. I submitted another jpeg and that was accepted too and paid for promptly. All right, the price isn’t wonderful but there isn’t a commission to pay, so that more or less doubles the price and there is no carriage to pay either. I took the whole thing on trust and it paid off. I have paintings on walls all over Europe but not as far as I know on the wall of a chateau - until now. If they are sold on? They bear my signature. I painted them and now they’re out in the world. Isn’t that what we do it for?
Jay.
15Artists UK on Aug 21, 2008 at 3:32 pm:
Thanks for your feedback Jay. Your point about signing your originals is well taken and good advice for anyone submitting a painting although once someone owns full rights there is nothing they cannot legally do with it - crop it to remove the signature for instance. Your point,”I painted them and now they’re out in the world. Isn’t that what we do it for?” is well-taken although artists do still have to eat and painting originals for 305 Euros each with no ongoing 2nd rights or other publishing income etc is a tough way to make a living.
16Jay on Aug 22, 2008 at 10:58 am:
I know we all have to make a living - surviving on a state pension isn’t exactly plumpsious and, yes, I don’t have a family to support but….guys, guys, get over yourselves. I’m always grateful for any sale, on the rule that ‘every little helps, as the old girl said as she…..’ Unless you’re up there with ‘the greats’ then life as a painter is a struggle. You tot up your income in bits and drabs. What matters to me is that someone has liked the paintings enough to part with hard cash - and the £240 per painting buys a lot of groceries or canvasses. I might well have painted over them at some point. In the end they’re only marks on a piece of cloth. I’m not precious about my art and if someone wanted to pass my work off as their own that would tell me something worthwhile. By the way, I signed both my paintings at the bottom and also indelibly on the back and also inserted a jpeg on the contract.
I absolutely don’t regret a thing. (Oh and by the way, Nadia is lovely)
Cheers,
Jay
17Artists UK on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:28 pm:
Actually, Jay, EVEN if you are up there with the greats it doesn’t mean the money is rolling in. I could (but I won’t!) name several famous artists who are not rich. I’m sure there are others who feel as you do and perhaps this is right for them but as you said, you don’t have a family to support etc. Many artists do and need a better reimbursement for their artwork than this. However, we are pleased to see that Château des Réaux are doing what they said they would in terms of payment and that you are happy with what you have acheived through them. We wish you all the best with your ‘marks on pieces of cloth’.
18artinfo-management on Oct 8, 2008 at 8:23 pm:
Liebe Redaktion, liebe Künstler…
ein paar Worte zu diesem Thema aus “Germany”
Etwa 90 % aller zumeist guten Künstlerinnen/Künstler würden zu den 10 % Künstlern gehören, die wirklich bekannt und erfolgreich sind und viel Geld mit ihrer Arbeit verdienen.
Etwa die Hälfte aller guten Künstler/Innen müssen viel Geld investieren, um ein paar namhafte Galerien national wie international in ihre Vita schreiben zu können und die die meisten davon haben entweder einen gut verdienenden Partner oder müssen am Tag eine andere Arbeit machen, um Abends dann malen zu können.
Soviel mal zu den Kommentaren einiger auf dieser Seite - es sei denen gegönnt, die es nicht nötig haben, an solchen Aktionen, wie “Chateau de Reaux” teilnehmen zu müssen. Für die Teilnehmer/Innen: Es sei Ihnen gegönnt, mal ein Bild verkauft zu haben.
Bedeutung: man ist nicht deswegen ein herausragender Künstler, weil man davon gut oder sogar sehr gut leben kann, sondern in der Regel deswegen weil man von jemanden entdeckt wurde, der in der Arbeit ein business sieht und weiß, dass man damit viel Geld machen kann. So mancher als Hobbymaler bezeichneter Künstler leistet die gleiche, wenn nicht sogar bessere künstlerische Arbeit und wird trotzdem nicht berühmt - vielleicht im Umkreis ein wenig bekannt. Ein Schmierfink wie zum Beispiel Baselitz ist kaum zu bezahlen und leistet eine “künstlerische Arbeit”, die tatsächlich jeder Machen kann. Eine wirkliche Qualität steckt wahrscheinlich nur in den verwendeten Materialien…was sich gut verkaufen ließ, war die Idee: er würde seine Bilder verkehrt herum malen. So etwas nennt man aber nicht Kunst, sondern Marketing und er hatte Erfolg damit…okay!
Diese “Wettbewerbe” wie sie nun auch von dem Ukrainer Poet gemacht werden, sind ganz nebenbei nicht neu! Neu ist, dass hier die Bilder von vornherein angekauft werden - meist muß man für solche Wettbewerbe einiges bezahlen: Bezahlen für die Lieferung, Teilnahmegebühren, Beteiligung an den Kosten für einen Katalog und so einiges mehr. Will ein Künstler in einer angesehenen kommerziellen Galerie ausstellen, muß er in der Regel einen Grundbetrag entrichten und je nach Standort und Wertigkeit der Galerie bis zu 50 % des Verkaufswertes abgeben und so manches Mal eine Arbeit für umsonst (als Dankeschön) dalassen.
Insofern sollten einige Kritker auf dieser Kommentarseite vielleicht ein wenig Realität walten lassen und darüber nachdenken, ob sie nicht im Grunde alle auf diesen Moment warten, wo man sagt: Ich kaufe Ihnen eine Arbeit ab….
Viele Menschen kaufen sich Bilder, weil sie eine schöne und vielleicht auch interessante Dekoration für ihr Umfeld haben möchten. Einige wenige kaufen Bilder als Wertanlage. Andere kaufen Bilder, weil sie ihren Künstlerfreunden eine Freude machen wollen oder ihre Arbeit fördern wollen. Letztendlich aber ist auch ein Bild im Verkauf nur eine Ware, ein Gegenstand: Mercedes baut Autos, um Geld zu verdienen, ein Künstler malt um Geld zu verdienen oder weil es ihm Spaß macht, kreativ zu sein.
Es ist also keine künstlerische Abwertung, wenn einer Bilder ankauft, um sie weiterzuverkaufen, das tun Galerien auch und ebenso Käufer von ganz berühmten Künstlern - so wie van Gogh zum Beispiel können viele malen, aber sie haben den Fehler in der Regel noch zu malen oder für den Kunstmarkt nicht interessant zu sein.
So, bevor ich hier noch die gesamte Kunstgeschichte und ihre verschiedenen Marktwertigkeiten aufführe, würde ich glauben, dass es als Kommentar reicht.
Jeder teilnehmende Künstler hat eine Entscheidung für sich getroffen und seinen Betrag sicher erhalten - das Restrisiko, auf den mit Sicherheit sehr vielen Exponaten liegt beim Ankäufer…wenn er sie weiterverkaufen will…oder muß.
Anmerkung: Mein Englisch ist nicht so ausgereift, deswegen in deutsch. Ich hoffe, Sie können es entsprechend und sinngemäss übersetzen.
Also beste Grüße an alle Künstler/Innen der Welt, viel Glück für die Teilnehmer/Innen dieser Aktion….betrachtet es gegebenenfalls als eine günstige Werbung, für die man auch noch was bekommt und - ich finde - der Eintrag in der Vita: Ausgestellt im Chateau de Reaux klingt so schlecht auch nicht, oder?
Euer AE.Untiet - artinfo-management - Hamburg - germany
19Artists UK on Oct 14, 2008 at 9:31 am:
Thank you for your observations. Yes, it is indeed up to each artist to decide whether such an offer is in their best interests given the time it takes them to paint the picture etc plus how desperately they need a sale. We provide a computer translation below of this post in German. It isn’t brilliant but it should give those who don’t read German well (like me) an idea what our German friend is saying -
Dear Editors, dear artists …
A few words on this topic from “Germany”
Approximately 90% of all mostly good artists / artist would be the 10% include artists who truly know and are successful and a lot of money with their work deserve.
About half of all good artists must complete a lot of money to invest, to a few well-known galleries nationally and internationally in their Vita be able to write and most of them have either a high earning partner or need a day, others work to evening, then paint them.
Times as much to the comments of some on this page - it was gegönnt those who do not need it, in such actions, such as “Chateau de Reaux” to participate. For the participants inside: It was gegönnt you, sometimes a picture to have sold.
Meanings: one is not therefore an outstanding artist, because one of them is good or even very good place to live, but usually it because it was discovered by someone who work in a business sees and knows so much that you can make money . Many people designated as a hobby painter artist does the same, if not better artistic work and is still not known - perhaps around a little known. Fink as a lubricant, for example, Baselitz is hardly to pay and make an “artistic work”, which can actually make any. A real quality is probably only in the materials used … what did sell well, was the idea: his pictures he would paint upside down. That is called but not art, but marketing and he had success so … okay!
These “contests” as they are now also on the Ukrainian poet made, incidentally, are not new! What is new is that here the pictures from the outset be purchased - usually it is for such contests some pay: Pay for the supply and participation fees, participation in the costs for a catalog, and so much more. Will an artist in a prestigious commercial gallery exhibit, he is usually a basic pay and, depending on the location and value of the gallery up to 50% of sales value and will many times a job for free (as a thank you) dalassen.
Therefore some Kritker comment on this page perhaps a little reality manner and consider whether it is not basically all waiting for this moment, where you say: I’ll buy you a job ….
Many people buy paintings, because they are a beautiful and perhaps also interesting decoration for their environment would like to have. Buy a few pictures as a value investment. Others buy pictures because they are a joy artist friends want to do or want to promote their work. Ultimately, however, is also an image in selling only one product, an object: to build Mercedes cars to make money, an artist paints to earn money or because it’s fun to be creative.
There is no artistic devaluation when one pictures ankauft to resell them, the galleries are doing well and also buyers of very famous artists - such as van Gogh, for example, many paint, but they have the defect usually have to paint or for the art market is not interesting.
So before I even here the entire history of art and its various market perform, I would believe it as a comment last.
Each participating artist has a decision for himself and his hit safely amount received - the residual risk to the safety of many exhibits lies with the purchaser … if he wants to sell them … or need.
Note: My English is not so mature, so in German. I hope that you can use it accordingly and translate accordingly.
So best greetings to all the artists inside the world, good luck for the participants inside this action …. It may be regarded as an effective advertising for which we still gets what and - I think - the entry in the Life: Issued in Chateau de Reaux sounds not so bad, huh?
Your AE.Untiet - ArtInfo Management - Hamburg - germany
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