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Latin American art’s moment in the limelight

As spectacular new museums open in Miami Beach and Mexico City, interest has never been higher in artists from the region, reports Georgina Adam.

Latin-American art will be centre stage in Miami Beach this month, as the new Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) flings open its doors on 4 December in a majestic new Herzog and de Meuron-designed building on the Miami waterfront. Its inauguration coincides with the opening of the annual Art Basel Miami Beach fair, and this year with the new Brazil ArtFair, the first of its kind dedicated to Brazilian contemporary art and design.

PAMM will put a strong emphasis on Latin-American artists, but the focus doesn’t end there. Hundreds of the glamorous VIPs invited to the party-and-art fest in Miami will have hotfooted it from another major museum inauguration, that of the Jumex museum in Mexico City. This was also opened last month by the leading Mexican art collector and fruit-juice heir Eugenio López, and will display his extensive art holdings, which range from American minimalists to Mexican artists such as Gabriel Orozco and Damián Ortega, whose installation Cosmogonía doméstica stands right outside the museum.

No expense was spared in López’ $50m project, with the building designed by the guru of minimalism, British architect Sir David Chipperfield, and clad in honey-coloured travertine marble. Opposite it stands the Soumaya museum, belonging to the world’s richest man, telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim, which opened two years ago. The contrast with the elegant Jumex could not be greater: Slim’s unlovely metal-panelled structure –‘King Kong’s toilet’ as taxi drivers have dubbed it – houses an eclectic jumble of works, but with an emphasis on Mexican artists, although not contemporary ones. And yet another museum, this time for design, is also planned for the Mexican capital, while the city council has a million-dollar programme for commissioning art works for public spaces.

Private collectors such as López in Mexico or the mining billionaire Bernardo Paz, who has created Inhotim, a 3,000-acre, open-air ‘art park’ in the depths of the Brazilian countryside, are a key element in the expansion of the market for Latin-American art. They do this by supporting their national artists – Paz was even married to one, Adriana Varejão, his sixth wife (they are now divorced) – and enhancing their profile by exhibiting them in their art spaces. Paz devotes whole pavilions at Inhotim to the Brazilians Hélio Otiticia, Tunga and Cilio Meireles.

Hidden potential

In addition, London’s Tate gallery has established an acquisition group specifically for art from Latin America, while Paris’s Pompidou Centre is also targeting the region through its international committee. And because the region’s art galleries are increasingly exhibiting at fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach, the collector base is growing. As well as local collectors following the lead of López or Paz and buying regional artists as well as international ones, there is international interest. Madonna, for instance, collects the work of the Mexican Frida Kahlo.

It is difficult to evaluate the true size of the markets in the region, however. Brazil, followed by Mexico are the two biggest countries for art sales, and a sign of Brazil’s potential is that White Cube has established a gallery in São Paulo, the first ‘mega-gallery’ to do so. But in Brazil eye-wateringly high taxes on art imports have been discouraging sales, although there is probably more being imported than the taxman knows about.

Auction results do not reflect the whole picture either, as the most popular artists – such as Fernando Botero, Ernesto Neto, Beatriz Milhazes and Varejão are sometimes not included in sales of Latin-American art, but in contemporary art sessions. In the recent round of Latin-American auctions, Sotheby’s saw a new high for the abstract Brazilian Sergio Camargo when Untitled (Relief No. 21/52) sold for over $2.1m, way over its $400,000-$600,000 pre-sale target (pre-sale estimates don’t include fees; results do). The highest auction price for any Latin-American goes to the Mexican Rufino Tamayo for his 1945 portrait Trovador, at $7.2m, although privately it is believed that works by Frida Kahlo have sold for over $10m.

While these are not small amounts, they are a fraction of those for, say, contemporary Chinese art, and this has led some investors to start looking closely at the region. An ArtTactic poll on the Latin-American market this year found that 59% of the respondents believed that the market would rise over the next six months. Particularly tipped is Colombia, with its thriving art fair and which has benefited from the political unrest in Venezuela, causing collectors to move to the safer city of Bogotá. And Tate Modern has just appointed a Colombian, José Roca, as an Adjunct Curator of Latin-American art.

Indeed, the reason Art Basel chose Miami Beach, rather than New York or Los Angeles to establish its American outpost was to get access to the Latin-American market. And this will only be reinforced in a few days, when artists from the region get greater exposure in the airy, light-filled spaces of the Pérez museum.

Bringing up baby: How to pay for infertility treatment

Recording artist Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon and their children (Amanda Edwards/Getty)

When Erica Walther Schlaefer was 26, she and her husband were devastated to discover that they would need medical intervention to conceive a child. In the end the couple tried in vitro fertilisation (IVF) three times at a cost of $9,000 per cycle and had to borrow money to cover the costs.

When this proved unsuccessful, they decided to adopt a baby boy from Korea, and then a second baby boy a few years later, incurring significant adoption costs. Schlaefer, now 35, was so affected by her experience that she and her husband started a foundation called Parenthood For Me to help fund adoptions and assisted reproductive technology costs for others.

“We wanted to help other people in a similar situation,” she said. “We felt that the size of one’s bank account should not dictate whether or not they become parents.”

Unfortunately, for most people, the cost of medically-assisted pregnancy can be crippling. That said, the price tag varies — as does the level of financial help available. Here’s how to plan for the expense:

What it will take: US couples facing infertility treatment will pay more than $5,000 on average to cover clinic visits, drugs and other expenses, according to a study in the San Francisco area from the University of California. Opting for IVF? That will cost an average of $12,400, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In the UK, the average amount spent on fertility treatment was £8,678 ($14,299), according to the Red Annual National Fertility Report from Red magazine. While in Australia, IVF costs are closer to AUD$4,000 ($3,559).

“Fertility treatment in Australia is far more affordable than the US experience,” said Mark Bowman, president of the Fertility Society of Australia and associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sydney. “The Australian Medicare system and private health insurance meet part of the cost.”

There are times when couples will spend more money, of course. “You might need a donor egg, or you might choose to use a donor egg in collaboration with your IVF cycle,” said Barb Collura, CEO of the US organisation RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. “That is going to cost $30,000 to $50,000.”

Considering building your family via a surrogate? In the US, that will run $50,000 to $100,000 whereas surrogacy in Australia costs between AUD$20,000 and AUD$65,000 ($17,796 to $57,837). In the UK, however, surrogacy may be less expensive, because families are only legally allowed to cover the surrogate’s expenses and loss of wages. But because of this, surrogates are difficult to find — many couples go to other countries.

How long you need to prepare: Infertility is usually a surprise for couples, consequently most do not have much time to save. You may have to try for a baby naturally for some period of time (a year, for example) before health insurance will cover any type of medical intervention. About 20% of US employers cover assisted reproductive therapies, according to a survey from Resolve.

It might be wise to talk to a financial planner before you even embark on the process. “I show the couple how much it will cost, and I develop a financing strategy and show them that they may have to work longer to accommodate this expense,” said Ann Terranova, a financial planner with Union Financial Partners in San Francisco, California.

“I show them the trade-offs. Then it is up to them to decide how much they want this particular aspect of their lives. There may be a point where the cost is too much and the endeavour will be abandoned,” Terranova said. Consider what you are willing to spend, the number of treatments you might consider having, and at what point you will consider other avenues, such as adoption.

Do it now: Most private fertility clinics will have someone on staff dedicated to guiding clients through the financial part of the process. That person can help you understand the costs, and any assistance that might be available. Many clinics also offer financing. “We provide careful written information as well as making sure that one of our financial team will sit down with a couple contemplating IVF,” said Peter Illingworth, medical director of IVF Australia.

Check with your insurance. Some health insurance plans may cover part or all of your fertility treatments, depending on your location, your plan and your needs. In the UK, for example, some fertility treatment may be covered by the National Health Service (NHS), but there may also be a waiting list for treatment. In Australia, some fertility treatment costs are covered by Medicare and others are covered by private health insurance. If your private insurance does not cover infertility treatment, upgrade now, because there could be a waiting period before benefits are provided.

Talk about cash. “If you do not already have one, you should implement a monthly cash flow budget as soon as possible to plan for the large expenses and debt repayment,” said Adam Burch, a financial planner with Briaud Financial Advisors in Texas, who spent nearly $30,000 on fertility treatments before having his daughter recently. “This is what helped us most when going through this process and allowed us to effectively manage the cost.”

Apply for financial aid. In the US, there are non-profit organisations that offer grants to help fund infertility treatments and adoption costs. You can find a list of resources at US site Resolve.org.

Consider egg sharing. In the UK, many private clinics offer free or reduced cost IVF for patients that are willing to donate eggs for others to use. This is a very personal decision, but it may make IVF a more affordable option for you.

Do it later: Keep track of your expenses. In the US, fertility treatments are not eligible for a tax credit in the way that adoption costs are, but they are deductible to the extent that they exceed 10% of your income, Frederick said. While, in Australia, it may be possible Medicare Safety Net may reimburse some out-of-pocket expenses.

Sign up for better medical insurance. If you have an insurance plan that does not offer coverage for infertility help, check with the benefits department to see if another option is available to you. Or consider switching providers at open enrolment time.

Maintain a cash cushion. If your efforts are successful, you will have a child (or multiple children) to bring up, so depleting your savings entirely is not a smart move. “I once advised a local couple who did in vitro fertilisation and ended up with triplets,” said J. Jeffrey Lambert, a financial planner in California.

Do it smarter: Think carefully before tapping in to retirement savings. In the US, for example money taken out of an IRA or 401(k) for fertility treatments might be excluded from a 10% early withdrawal penalty as an unreimbursed medical expense, but you will still have to pay taxes on it said Brian Frederick, a financial planner with Stillwater Financial Partners in Arizona.

No matter where you live, withdrawing from a retirement account will reduce any future growth potential for your assets. It will also be challenging to make up this withdrawal through future contributions as disposable income goes down when you have children.

Jumbo-gardeners: How elephants affect weather

The tropical forests of Congo help create downpours many miles away. What’s a key element in this forest flourishing? The elephant.

The tropical rainforests of Africa and Asia play a crucial role in keeping our planet healthy. They moderate our climate, absorb the carbon we produce, and act as a major source of atmospheric moisture – which can fall as rain many miles away.

One of the biggest tropical forests in the world is in Congo. Its huge size and incredible biodiversity is partly thanks to an unlikely ally – the elephant.

In this film, The Nature Conservancy’s lead scientist Dr M Sanjayan, Dr Valerie Kapos of the UN Environment Programme, and tropical field biologist and conservationist Dr Ian Redmond reveal the crucial role that elephants play in keeping these forests strong and resilient, and how elephants are the most important player when it comes to the diversity of tree species in the rainforest. 

Smiths fans discuss the magic of Morrissey and Marr

Broadcaster and Smiths fan Tim Samuels explores the enduring appeal of the Manchester band who exploded onto Britain’s pop scene in the 80s.

To their fans, they are “the most important, intelligent, most idiosyncratically English and most sorely-missed pop band of the 1980s.” To their detractors, they are merely the most miserable.

Presenter Tim Samuels, who grew up in Manchester in the 80s, is of the former persuasion. Thirty years since the release of Hand In Glove and the emergence of the band, Samuels asks why The Smiths were so important to their fans – as writer and DJ Stuart Maconie puts it, the band were “life-changing”.

They created a defined, poetic world, one rooted in the North and influenced by domestic melodrama, northern realism and the British New Wave cinema of the 50s and 60s.

As important as Morrissey’s lyrical style and defined sensibility was the musical genius of Johnny Marr, which went far beyond a mere talent for jangly guitar riffs.

Together, they formed a unique musical partnership which won them a swath of fans, from Manchester all the way across the pond to the United States. As ex-pat American and super-fan Amy Lamé explains, “they created a club of outsiders, and I felt part of that club, even 3,000-odd miles away.”

The beauty of maps

They show us more than the way from A to B – maps are important historical documents and some are stunning works of art

Some of history's most brilliant examples are examined here in incredible detail, revealing the role of the artist, their influences and the impact of their creations on the art world.

The Hereford Mappa Mundi is the largest intact medieval wall map in the world. Having spent most of its long life at Hereford Cathedral, it rarely emerges from behind its glass case. After a year-long restoration project, a rare opportunity has risen to get close to the map and explore its extraordinary detail, giving a unique insight into the medieval mind.

Clarence Seedorf set to take over as AC Milan manager

Clarence Seedorf says he is to become the new AC Milan manager after announcing his retirement from playing.

The 37-year-old, who played for the Serie A giants from 2002 until 2012, will replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was sacked as head coach on Monday after a poor start to the season.

"I am retiring from football after 22 years," said Seedorf. "My aim is to dream again."

Milan are currently 11th in the Italian top flight.

They have won only five of the first 19 games this season, and are 30 points behind leaders Juventus.

Allegri's sacking came after Milan lost 4-3 to minnows Sassuolo on Sunday.

Former Netherlands midfielder Seedorf made more than 400 appearances for Milan, helping them win two Serie A and two Champions League titles.

He was also the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs - Dutch side Ajax in 1995, Spanish giants Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan, in 2003 and 2007.

He has also played for Inter Milan and Sampdoria and, after leaving Milan, the Dutchman joined Brazilian side Botafogo in 2012 where he finished his playing career.

"This experience at Botafogo has helped me grow a lot and will no doubt help me in my next step as coach of AC Milan," Seedorf added.

"I wish Botafogo and my team-mates the best."

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