Online art portal set to revolutionise fine art market

MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 28th April 2011 1

New online art portal set to revolutionise fine art market throughout Australasia

A new online portal designed to create a virtual market for modern and contemporary visual art is aiming to revolutionise the way art is bought, sold and researched throughout Australasia. Launched today to New Zealand and Australian markets, Ocula (www.ocula.com) is the first online art portal and market news source, incorporating online auction and private sales capabilities, catering to the trans-Tasman art market.

Co-founders Christopher Taylor and Simon Fisher believe Ocula will stimulate the Australasian market by allowing art enthusiasts to research, buy and sell art around the clock and from any location.

“Ocula is an ideal entry point to the art market that brings together the best of the art world in one easily accessible platform that is open all day, every day,” said co-founder Christopher Taylor. “We’re offering a curated art portal where time-poor collectors can browse through stockrooms and exhibitions of the most influential galleries in the region at any time of day and without leaving their home or office,” explained Taylor.

Ocula is the first auction site in the world to offer three dimensional virtual galleries, allowing art works to be viewed in an immersive environment that gives the visitor a true sense of scale. Harnessing world-leading technology developed by Auckland based digital innovators exhibbit.com, Ocula’s virtual galleries will be offered in the auction area of the site initially. The virtual gallery spaces are based on actual renditions of existing gallery premises allowing users to experience the size and scale of art works within their original context.

Co-founder Simon Fisher explained: “The quality of the online renderings of the art works offered for auction is second-to-none and our virtual galleries recreate to the finest detail the ambience, décor, and lighting of the interiors of actual galleries.”

In addition to the extensive range of art presented online by Ocula’s network of galleries, the portal will host online auctions of important works and facilitate sales by private treaty. Online auctions launch with selected important works by New Zealand artists with auctions of major Australian works expected to go live in the second half of 2011. All works offered for sale on Ocula through online auction or private treaty will also undergo a strict quality approval process.

Ocula provides up-to-date art market data, including comparable sales results through a live feed to Australian Art Sales Digest, news and reviews of artists and exhibitions. Accessing this information is free-of-charge following registration on the site.

Users can create a personal profile allowing them to receive alerts when favourite artists are listed for sale, save search preferences and view forthcoming exhibitions. MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 28th April 2011 2 Two Rooms Gallery Assistant Director Chantelle Smith says Ocula provides an accessible platform for people to learn more about the contemporary art scene in Australasia, which they can then follow up directly with affiliate galleries. "It's great to have a resource where leading galleries, dealing in the same field of art, are profiled in one central location. This will broaden the awareness of artists and galleries alike."

Justin Miller, art adviser, auctioneer and former CEO of Sotheby’s Australia commented: "We live in a digital generation in which collectors are increasingly choosing to purchase art online. Ocula offers a curated smorgasbord of fine art spanning the Asia Pacific region. To my mind, anything that supports collecting and makes the purchasing of exemplary works of art an easier process is to be applauded.”

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