As the spring auctions in various art markets begin, there have been cases in the past where buyers purchased fake artworks. So, how can one distinguish the authenticity of artworks?

Dr Ye Guo-Shin, the first Chinese PhD in calligraphy and painting authentication (a consultant for twelve global auction houses and a lecturer at the Criminal Investigation Bureau), for the first time faces the media and demonstrates how to differentiate between the genuine and fake works of Zhang Daqian, Pu Xinyu, and Huang Junbi, the Three Masters of Crossing the Sea, teaching the public how to identify authenticity and how to purchase art with potential for appreciation in the auction market.

The Chinese art market has rapidly risen, with its overall market size now ranking second in the world. The thriving auction market has attracted art forgery groups, who believe there is profit to be made. They often produce high-quality fake paintings or replicas of other works, passing them off as genuine, and sometimes even auction houses may be deceived.

Dr. Ye Guo-Shin, who serves as an authentication consultant for twelve global auction houses, says that even the top auction companies in the world cannot guarantee that their auction items are 100% free from forgeries. Dr. Ye says, “Forgery groups are more professional than you think, and some even involve artists who are trained to imitate the works of masters. Ordinary buyers have a hard time distinguishing the real from the fake.”

Dr. Ye demonstrates the simplest method for buyers to identify fakes: “These two paintings are identical, but the original work by the artist Liu Wenxi is worth 3 million, while the cost of the fake could be less than 30 yuan.”

1. Use a magnifying glass to check the primary colors: Forgery groups now use digital inkjet technology, which is inexpensive and fast to replicate. However, if you look closely and spot the primary colors, it means the painting was created using inkjet technology.
2. Check signatures and seals: The impression of the seal and the color of the seal paste can be used to verify the authenticity of the artwork.

Dr. Ye says that forgery groups often take advantage of people’s greed for small bargains. Sellers often justify low prices by claiming they urgently need money, leading buyers to feel they’ve made a good deal. However, the value difference between a genuine work and a fake is huge—the fake has no value at all. Yeh recalls a friend who once spent 1 million on a Zhang Daqian piece, thinking it was a bargain, but after authentication, it turned out to be a fake with no collectible value. Forgery groups can produce fakes of precious works worth hundreds of thousands for a mere hundred yuan, making a huge profit. This is why forgeries are rampant in the art market.

Dr. Ye explains that, in the case of Zhang Daqian’s paintings, his brushwork and signature contain many clues. Yeh has seen many buyers suffer painful experiences at auctions when they unknowingly bought fakes. Yeh, who has had a deep interest in calligraphy and paintings since childhood, started hosting exhibitions at the age of 12 and later shared his collection experiences with art collectors. This led him into the art auction market as an auctioneer and appraiser. With years of firsthand experience in every aspect of the art market, Dr Ye is currently the chief appraiser and chief auctioneer at Taiwan Foster Auction Company. Taiwan Foster Auction has also achieved an impressive 85% success rate. Last year, a piece from a mainland auction company was sold for several times its estimated value two months later.

Looking at the art market, this year’s art auction tax has been reduced, which has attracted many new collectors. Starting from January 1st, for art and antique lovers offering art for auction, if they cannot provide proof of cost, the estimated profit margin has been lowered from 9% to 15% to a flat 6%. For example, on a piece priced at 30 million, the tax amount will be reduced from 202,000 to 81,000. This new policy is expected to enhance Taiwan’s art market competitiveness, and many people who previously invested in real estate are now entering the art auction market.

In this spring auction, Taiwan Foster Auction will feature works from the Three Masters of Crossing the Sea—Zhang Daqian, Pu Xinyu, Huang Junbi, Qi Baishi, Jiang Zhaoshen, Yu Youren, and other famous calligraphy and painting masters. In celebration of Mother’s Day, they are also launching jewelry pieces with “no starting price” as part of the auction. The preview will take place on May 5th and 6th, with the auction held on May 7th at 1:30 PM at the Dunhua South Road Eslite Financial Building, 12th Floor, in Taipei. Anyone interested in art investment is welcome to participate.

For more details or to request a catalog, please contact 02-2705-7869.

Original news source: Professor Ye Guo-Shin, the first Chinese PhD in calligraphy and painting authentication, teaches you how to identify the real and fake works of the Three Masters of Crossing the Sea.