Art exchange

With an approach like a stock exchange, a new platform gives ordinary art buyers a chance to discover underappreciated artists, reports Deng Zhangyu.

A new trading model for art went public on April 20 in Beijing, when 10 artists were listed on a stock - exchange-like market, a capitalized attempt to explore China's booming art market.

Called "artists gongpan", the model seeks to build up a new niche market targeting people who are interested in buying works of artists who are undervalued in the market. The word gongpan derives from jargon in the jade-trading market in China, where unearthed stones are shown for bidders who can offer a price.