Nigerian Artist Emmanuel Eni Launches App for Objective Art Pricing
In a significant move to bring objectivity to the art market, Emmanuel Eni, a Germany-based Nigerian poet, painter, sculptor, and multi-media artist known as 'Blackman in European Kitchen', has introduced a digital solution called the Basic Metric Scale for Art Products (BMSFAP). This newly launched app aims to address years of inconsistent and artificially fixed pricing in the art world, where middlemen, galleries, and curators have often influenced artwork values to the detriment of artists.
Addressing Contentious Pricing Issues
Emmanuel Eni highlighted that pricing has been one of the most contentious issues in the art ecosystem for decades, with many artists unable to fully benefit from the true value of their creative output. He stated, "For decades, pricing has remained one of the most contentious issues in the art ecosystem, with many artists unable to fully benefit from the true value of their creative output." The BMSFAP app offers a structured framework that evaluates artworks using clearly defined criteria, providing a more reliable benchmark for valuation.
Core Scoring System and Criteria
At the heart of the application is a scoring system based on six key artistic elements: concept or idea, design and composition, technical skill, creativity and innovation, aesthetic impact, and finish and presentation. Each criterion is assigned a maximum of 10 points, resulting in a total possible score of 60. This final score is then used to generate a suggested price for the artwork.
According to Eni, BMSFAP serves as a reference point for professional artworks valued up to $12,000, though final prices may vary due to external factors such as the number of intermediaries involved in a sale. Additional considerations like size, material, and the artist's reputation may also influence the end price.
Development and AI Integration
The concept behind the application dates back to 2007 and was first published in Eni's work 'Death of the Curator Drama', which was showcased alongside 'Documenta 12' in Kassel, Germany, and later exhibited in several German museums, including the Grassi Museum. The current app represents years of refinement and development, incorporating Eni's impulses, feeds, order, and theory, enhanced with artificial intelligence to improve pricing accuracy.
For two-dimensional works like paintings, the app uses computer-calibrated calculations supported by AI and algorithms to determine value. Professional sculptures, paintings, and other multi-dimensional artworks are assessed using the same six criteria, with calibration methods suited to their form.
User Accessibility and Features
Beyond professional artists, the app is designed for collectors, buyers, and art owners who want to ascertain the objective value of artworks in their possession. Users can simply upload an image of the artwork to receive a detailed valuation, complete with a digital certificate that includes the artwork's image, score, and estimated price. Each certificate is uniquely numbered with the user's name and features the Emmanuel Eni BMSFAP logo and stamp, reinforcing its authenticity.
Notably, the system deliberately excludes traditional pricing factors such as the artist's name, time spent on the work, or materials used, focusing instead on intrinsic artistic value.
Global Availability and Goals
The app is accessible worldwide and can be downloaded via its website, as well as on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users must register and upload an image of the artwork they wish to value. Eni said, "The app is suitable for a wide range of users, including professional artists, collectors, gallery owners, museums, and educational institutions. It is also applicable across regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas."
He emphasized that the ultimate goal of BMSFAP is to provide clarity and fairness in artwork pricing, enabling artists to understand and assert the true worth of their works while giving buyers confidence in the value of what they acquire.
Emmanuel Eni is the inventor and patent holder of 'New Light Paintings' and the philosopher of the thesis of 'Contemporary Baroque'. He has exhibited at the Biennale d'art contemporain de Lyon in France, the Biennale in Dakar (Dak'Art) in Senegal, and parallel at Documenta 12 in Kassel. His drama, Death of the Curator, was performed at the Museum for Ethnography in Leipzig.
