Reflective Log: Book: Contemporary art and its commercial markets a report on current conditions and future scenarios by Maria Lind, Olav Velthuis

Key points & reflections:

• "in the words of Malik and Phillips, the "endemic configuration of people, space, and shared but unequal love will be the ever more prevalent shape of public galleries and museums over at least the next two decades as this type of inventive public-private methodology becomes increasingly necessary to maintain institutions in the midst of the decline of state funding for culture"" (Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 11). 

• "As in other markets for cultural goods, commercialization is the dominant force driving change in the contemporary art market" (Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 18). This is an influence for artists, and changes the type of art we see. 

• "The motives of artists, collectors, and their intermediaries have supposedly become more profit-orientated and less dedicated to creative or artistic goals."(Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 18).

• This book explains how the influence from the market has caused artists work to change from artistic, to commercial which is shown in the type of art they produce, which has become "easily recognizable, and digestible, iconic or provocative images, often borrowed from populate culture" (Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 19). 

• "Artists who exemplify this commercialization trend include Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Maurizo Cattelan."(Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 19). 

Further Research:

I researched Takashi Murakami after seeing his name, and found a page on the Gagosian website:

• This piece above reminds me of Jeff Koons' silver sculptures such as 'Rabbit', and it conforms to the type of art that is produced when influenced by a commercial market. I think its valuable to look at art by artists that focus on the selling of art, and the commercial to see how they do it. It's also interesting to me how much a piece of art sells for, and their market value. 

• Looking further on the Gagosian page I saw a 'shop items' link where viewers can easily click and buy a variety of products by Takashi Murakami, ranging from posters, prints, to tote bags. This is ironic, yet to be expected especially considering his name is among the top ten best selling contemporary artists. ((Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 19).

• A comment on Hirst's success as an artist is characterised by art critic Robert Hughes, where he compares Hirst to a pirate, bluffing his credibility throughout the art world. "This skill at manipulation is his real success as an artist" (Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 20).

• A comment on new collectors and where they choose to buy art. "These collectors tend to do business at Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips de Pury." (Lind and Velthuis, 2012, 21). 

Reflections:

• I want my work to exploit this shift in artistic goals because of the art markets influence. I want this influence to be apparent within my work.