In an effort aimed at bringing objectivity to the pricing of artworks, the Germany-based Nigerian poet, painter, sculptor and multi-media artist, Emmanuel Eni, also known as ‘Blackman in European Kitchen’, has introduced a digital solution named Basic Metric Scale for Art Products (BMSFAP).

The newly launched app seeks to correct years of inconsistent and often artificially fixed pricing in the art market, where middlemen, galleries and curators have largely influenced the value of artworks, often to the disadvantage of artists. He said, “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.”

Eni’s innovation, however, offers a structured framework that evaluates artworks using clearly defined criteria, thereby, providing a more reliable benchmark for valuation.

At the core of the application is a scoring system built on six key artistic elements: concept or idea, design and
composition, technical skill, creativity and innovation, aesthetic impact, and finish and presentation. Each of these criteria is assigned a maximum of 10 points, bringing the total possible score to 60.

The final score is then used to generate a suggested price for the artwork. According to Emmanuel Eni, BMSFAP serves as a reference point for Professional artworks valued up to $12,000, although final prices may still vary depending on 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.

“The concept behind the application dates back to 2007 and was first published in his 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 is the culmination of years of refinement and development, incorporating Eni’s impulses, feeds, order, and theory as propounded and written down, with artificial intelligence to enhance its pricing accuracy.

“For two-dimensional works such as paintings, the app employs, computer calibrated calculations supported by AI and algorithms to determine value of Professional sculptures, paintings and other more dimensional Artworks are also assessed using the same six criteria, employing calibration method suited to their form.

“Beyond Professional artists, the app is designed to serve collectors, buyers and art owners who wish to ascertain the objective value of artworks in their possession.

By simply uploading an image of the artwork, users can receive a detailed valuation, complete with a digital certificate that includes the artwork’s image, score and estimated price,” he said.

Each certificate is uniquely numbered also with the Name of the User 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.

The app is accessible globally and can be downloaded via its website, as well as on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users are required to 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 emphasised that the ultimate goal of the BMSFAP is to provide clarity and fairness in artworks pricing, enabling artists to understand and assert the true worth of their works, while giving buyers confidence in the value of what they acquire.” The website is: emmanuelenibmsfap.com.

Eni is the inventor and patent holder of ‘New Light Paintings’, the philosopher of the thesis of ‘Contemporary Baroque.’ Eni has had exhibitions at the Biennale d’art contemporain de Lyon, France, the Biennale in Dakar (Dak’Art) Senegal, and parallel at the Documenta 12 in Kassel. His drama, Death of the Curator, was performed at the Museum for Ethnography in Leipzig.