In Venice, ita��s all about location, it is pavilion placement that reminds us that not everyone starts out on an even foot, with each country assigned their spot. Powerful Westerners, and some of their former colonies are located in the beautiful Giardini, whilst others must settle for the Arsenale - a respectable location if you dona��t mind being squeezed in. Finally, those for whom art and soft power is clearly not a priority, often rely on generous donors and rent somewhere snazzy in the city for six months.

It is doubtful that Russian billionaire and Chelsea Football club owner Roman Abramovich felt that sensation of buyersa�� regret after his A?60 million 24-hour spending spree at Christiea��s and Sothebya��s in New York in 2008. He paid A?17 million for Lucian Freuda��s Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, and then proceeded to acquire Francis Bacona��s Triptych (1976) for A?43 million the next day.