A bidder in the Kosta Boda auction as the work is revealed to her.
Photo: Kosta Boda

Swedish glass gallery Kosta Boda decided to shake up the bidding in their most recent auction. Instead of typical monetary offers, bidders could only win an artwork with the intensity of their emotional and physical reactions towards the piece. Coined the “auction based on emotions,” no money was exchanged in the acquisition of the three pieces worth over €25,000 in total.

The gallery accepted blind binds on the three secret artworks. On the night of the auction, each bidder was brought into a closed off room. Sensors were hooked onto their hand and ear. At this point, the artwork was unveiled and the sensors began monitoring the bidder’s heart rate and galvanic skin response (changes in sweat production on their hands). Each bidder got 60 seconds to experience the work. After going through the process for each of the 303 participants, the three with the highest physical response were awarded the artworks.

The three pieces up for grabs were Acrobatic Music by Kjell Engman, worth €8,500; Super Protection 2 by Åsa Jungnelius, €1,900; and Protocol by Bertil Vallien, €15,000.

Jenny Sundqvist, Director of Marketing and Product Development at Orrefors Kosta Boda, commented, “It’s a great feeling to know that our unique pieces are now owned by people who definitely were not left untouched by the art glass, they felt very strongly about it.”

Watch the auction here: