No one has a problem with artist making money, the problem is most artist making a lot of money are bad artists, and the elitism of the present art institution actually promotes bad art and excludes good artist.
great discussion.definitely agree that the system is often able to commodify dissent into powerless gestures that give the system the give the appearance of genuine democracy or edgy rebellion. think 60's style art in moneyed galleries or punk and hiphop as fashion
Art is a very multidimentional language (s) crossing borders, - hopefully sharpening how we are present, how we participate in experience-expression - communicate , open into possible transformation of awareness ....place... time.... wonder ....vision .... possibilities ... meaning..... opening into deep experience of life or “ how is it possible to live”
As an artist, I see both great art in galleries and a lot of really poor more plastic art where the artist does as this speaker is doing: "and this, and this, and this... Great art is like great writing in where we intentionally leave the subject open for our audience discovery. If the artist is not open to their own discovery while creating, it will surely turn out: "and this, and this, and this" The reason that many great artist never get a major show is because the critics and galleries cannot stay alive showing only great art. Today they need a lot more different art, no matter how gimmicky it really is. Today you see a lot more bling, illustrative, and art that reflex on imagery produced by the electronic gaming industry. Mostly because that is as far as their minds can imagine. This is how they grew up and how much of their audience grew up. The fantasy electronic world is the world they are most familiar. IMO there is nothing wrong with that. It just looks very strange to me as both an oil painter and digital graphic designer when I see it on a canvas or displayed in plein air as a sculpture. If it fails as Pixar quality then I typically walk right by it. The creative artist that has worked years and created great art, must keep showing their art wherever possible in hope that someday they get recognized. If no-one ever sees their work, then what is the point? The whole point is to communicate feelings, emotions .... to other humans, please others in some way. To take the gimmick road, yes you might make a little income and please an audience. Except you are likely missing out on the "chance" that many people can discover their own great pleasure, emotions and such in several of your pieces of work. I paint to discover. That's all I really know to do because there are infinite discoveries still out there.
