Michael Kovacek is one of the founders of the Viennese auction house im Kinsky and, as he will tell you himself, has dedicated himself “body and soul” to art. We discuss the thrill of the auctions, the passion for collecting and why record prices are always worthy of making the headlines …

Taking inspiration from this quote by Hermann Hesse, I want to see every single moment as a new beginning, as the start of a new story with a happy ending. But in tough times – like during a pandemic – I admit that it’s not always easy to maintain this state of constant joyful anticipation …

The circumstances may have been difficult, but chefs and restaurant owners brought us so much joy while we were in lockdown. With fantastic recipes on Instagram, deliveries of our favourite foods and surprise food parcels for doctors at the hospital, they provided immense culinary comfort when we needed it most – the ultimate example of “sharing is caring” …

It seems as if Mario Dalpra had foreseen our present as early as 2017: his sculpture „il momento della verita“ which im Kinsky auctioned off for the selling price of (KP) € 23.040 (Hammer price € 18.000) – a world record for this artist – does especially ring true today. The so-called “moment of truth” has come for all of us, as it has for Daplra himself …