I then researched to see if there were any more episodes on the subject. There are 10 episodes on YouTube by Sotheby's that explore what underpins pricing for Sotheby's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dxr9r0stiU&list=PL9LyZcEeKzXrEh1ff7BELfZ93UsFBgUXJ
The episodes I am interested in/ feel are relative to my field of study are:
Episode 1: Authenticity
- Catalogue Raisonné - 'A catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive, annotated listing of all the known works of an artist either in a particular medium or all media. ' further research on this; https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/wallach-division/art-architecture-collection/catalogue-raisonne
- If a work is in that book, it is considered authentic.
- For future work I could include my own 'Catalogue Raisonne as a play on this valuation of art.
Episode 3: Rarity
- "The art market at its core is a classic sort of supply and demand business. Jeff Koons Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, these are artists that were incredibly prolific, it just so happens that people seem to always want a work by Andy Warhol." - Meredith Kirk.
- This quote backs up the business element of the art market I am keen to exploit.
- Further research- Alexander Calder.
Episode 8: Subject Matter:
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- Classic art
Episode 9: Medium (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvI9vBEQfgU)
- Medium is the first thing they look at to value.
- Innovatie and inventive media
- Hierarchy of sculpture - marble or bronze at the top of the hierarchy - this is an interesting point as my own work is striving to look like stainless steel.
- Sculpture is the traditonal medium
- Artists are re-evaluating those modes of which to make art. Redefining the definition of what can be art.
- Contemporary artists were pioneers across all different platforms - for example, Andy Warhol did painting, sculpture, drawing, and film, when an artist is so expansive there is something for everybody.
- Different artists have different specialities/ levels of excellence with certain mediums and people will pay more for that.
Episode 10: Quality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WDZ4Hmiy9w)
- Skill of the aritst, innovation within the piece
- "Craftsmanship. which is really quality, is as close as you get to beauty" - Nicholas Chow
- "It makes it special, and it makes it unique and it makes it unrepeatable" - Ian Kelleher
- Timelessness
- Magical element
- Exceptional quality - the artist arrived at something that has exceeded them. For example Gerhard Richter talks about the chance involved with his abstract painting. he knows that one is completed when he knows its exceeded him.
- How does the painting make you feel.
Reflections on episodes:
- Though they are short videos, they give a good insight into how popular and prestigious auction house, Sotheby's, put a price on artworks, and it has intrigued me to find out more.
- I feel like they could have said slightly more in each episode.
Further Research:
- Episode 6: Size. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd9cMsdwnxE
- I want to learn more about the subject as I find it quite fascinating how this price is achieved for an artwork and the concept of pricing work, and I think for my future projects it will revolve around these subjects more and I will watch more from this series.
- Further research may also be useful to look at Gerhard Richter's work as this process of his seems similar to the direction mine is taking - about completion when the object exceeds me, and this constant strive for this quality.
- Overall, I think the arts cannot be reduced to just their monetary value, and that is what I am trying to react against.
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