New documentary debuts clip ahead of world premiere at Zurich Film Festival Everyone knows Jeff Koons or Marina Abramović, but the art world has been hiding another celebrity: star auctioneer and former Sotheby’s chairman Simon de Pury. It’s precisely this contrast that fascinates me and makes him a good character for a film: someone who’s reserved and almost shy at times but then becomes the ‘Mick Jagger of auctions.’ This nickname suits him well,” says “The Hammer” director Simon Wallon. His documentary, world-premiering at Zurich Film Festival, was produced by Kiss & Kill, AIG, Formapro Films, On a Whim Films, Lazy Mike Gallery and Black Square Magazine.
Wallon – also behind “Bonnie,” about casting director Bonnie Timmermann – was immediately drawn to de Pury’s “magnetism, knowledge of art and larger-than-life personality.” Not to mention his exuberant style when conducting auctions. But within the art world, it’s not perceived that way at all,” he notes. In the doc, which delves into his past – and past auctions, including the one in Moscow, which felt “like a historical event where communism and capitalism collided,” says Wallon – artists like Chloe Wise, Lou Zhenggang, Koons and Abramović also sing his praises.
And as for Simon de Pury himself? He doesn’t mind these Jagger comparisons at all. Other monikers mentioned ‘Leonard Bernstein or [conductor] Herbert von Karajan of the auction world,’ but it’s the Mick Jagger one that stuck,” he recalls.
At Sotheby’s or Phillips, an important part of their yearly [revenue] can be decided within an hour during the big evening sales. For a charity, their yearly budget can depend on it.” He adds: “For me, every auction I conduct is the most important one I’ve ever done. Being good at the last one doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be good at the next one.
It requires maximum mental and physical concentration.” According to de Pury, Wallon’s film opens up a window to a world that isn’t easily accessible. And that the minute you stop dreaming, it’s the end. I couldn’t agree more,” he notes.
After all, de Pury is also an artist, photographer – and a DJ known as The Swiss Crocodile. The difficulty lies in keeping that up for as long as possible, and Simon has managed to keep that little flame lit through the years,” says the director. He genuinely marvels at the things he sees.”
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