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Global auction sales have risen 25 times in value terms over the past 20 years, thanks to strong demand for contemporary art in emerging markets in Asia and elsewhere.

Asian youth drive contemporary art market

Global sales rise 25 times in 20 years, led by young collectors, artists in Asia

TOKYO -- The global market for contemporary art is growing rapidly, propelled by a wave of talented young Asian artists and the enthusiastic patronage of youthful collectors in China and other emerging economies. Annual auction sales for such art have risen 25 times by value in the past 20 years.

A satirical painting by Chinese artist Fang Lijun offers an instructive example. The work, purchased by Japan's Fukuoka Asian Art Museum for 14 million yen ($89,000) in 1996, is now valued at around 1.1 billion yen.

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