Post by jake on Dec 17, 2010 9:27:20 GMT -8
sorry, still off topic but it's an interesting subtopic...
I can't help but think that most artists would love the thought of their art being bought and sold like a commodity. All artists are striving for success, which is unfortunately based on dollar signs and sales. Artists become artists because they love creating, but once they get a taste of succe$$, one can't help but think that it's accompanied by a sense of accomplishment, the "i've made it" feeling. I'm sure Hirst and Koons love the extraordinary amount of money their pieces fetch, not only because of all the money they're making.
That's a very good point, I often think that Monet was truly lucky to make money doing what he loved, and could sustain himself and his gardens. Whereas Van Gogh had to rely completely on his brother for support and never sold a single painting his whole life (there were some people that offered to buy his work, but never at the price he was asking). I guess the best case scenario for an artist would be a museum dropping a ton of cash procuring work for all to appreciate.
With the limited amount of artists I have had dealings with i've always felt that they're very lucky to make a living out of doing what they love, and do appreciate being able to sell their work.
I think the issues come when people are buying the work solely as an investment - the artists are putting so much effort and time in to these pieces that people then buy without appreciating them, lock them away and just wait for them to increase in value.
I think in the sharp rise in prices of "urban artists" in the post-banksy scene there were a lot of people buying work to then sell it on - both prints and originals.
Some of the artists riding Banksy's coat-tails were substandard (in my opinion) and as a result they made a quick buck but as the market fell the speculators had a nasty shock.
That said i think the artists in it for the right reasons have ridden the rollercoaster and most are out the other side and producing great work.
I know Hera/Jasmine from Herakut dislikes their work being sold on the secondary market which is a reason why people selling their work in the past have been urged to be discreet. The interview below is very revealing as to why and highlights and artist's relationship with their work.
I can't help but think that most artists would love the thought of their art being bought and sold like a commodity. All artists are striving for success, which is unfortunately based on dollar signs and sales. Artists become artists because they love creating, but once they get a taste of succe$$, one can't help but think that it's accompanied by a sense of accomplishment, the "i've made it" feeling. I'm sure Hirst and Koons love the extraordinary amount of money their pieces fetch, not only because of all the money they're making.
That's a very good point, I often think that Monet was truly lucky to make money doing what he loved, and could sustain himself and his gardens. Whereas Van Gogh had to rely completely on his brother for support and never sold a single painting his whole life (there were some people that offered to buy his work, but never at the price he was asking). I guess the best case scenario for an artist would be a museum dropping a ton of cash procuring work for all to appreciate.
With the limited amount of artists I have had dealings with i've always felt that they're very lucky to make a living out of doing what they love, and do appreciate being able to sell their work.
I think the issues come when people are buying the work solely as an investment - the artists are putting so much effort and time in to these pieces that people then buy without appreciating them, lock them away and just wait for them to increase in value.
I think in the sharp rise in prices of "urban artists" in the post-banksy scene there were a lot of people buying work to then sell it on - both prints and originals.
Some of the artists riding Banksy's coat-tails were substandard (in my opinion) and as a result they made a quick buck but as the market fell the speculators had a nasty shock.
That said i think the artists in it for the right reasons have ridden the rollercoaster and most are out the other side and producing great work.
I know Hera/Jasmine from Herakut dislikes their work being sold on the secondary market which is a reason why people selling their work in the past have been urged to be discreet. The interview below is very revealing as to why and highlights and artist's relationship with their work.