Art Fairs and the Accessibility of Art
Filed Under: events On: April 9, 2008 posted by: 20x200
Someone browsing a piece by Dan Perjovschi at the Armory Show, photo by Harry Swartz-Turfle
Friend of 20x200 Paddy Johnson's L Magazine column this week is on how art fairs are actually making it harder to see art:
Every time a series of works is exhibited for the first time at an art fair, its sale shrinks the public viewing time, while charging us for something we’d have previously seen for free. Sure, this art may be seen again on the secondary market or in exhibition, but tracking down a complete suite of works that may have been sold to a number of different clients often requires more resources than a space has at its disposal.
That's not something I'd ever thought about, but the increasing popularity and importance of art fairs, with their pricey admissions and exclusive off-site parties and viewings—Art Basel and its Miami offspring being the two most prestigious/notorious examples—mean that more than ever before, art is making it way into the hands of moneyed collectors without ever being seen by the public, i.e. the likes of you and me. Sad.
04/09/08 06:57 PM
starpower said...
The assertion that art is being seen less is flawed.
More people are likely to see a work of art at a four-day art fair than at a month-long gallery exhibition. At a popular art fair, this remains true even if a work of art is on display for only one day.
Concerning viewing times, studies have been conducted on how long a person visits a gallery or museum and how long a person looks at each work of art. In some studies, it is not unknown for museum visits to take 20 minutes or less (including the time spent in the facilities and the souvenir/book shop). It is rare for a person to look at a work of art for more than a few minutes.
Discontentment can be expressed in many ways, and some people feel that time-based metrics are useful. Of course, measuring an experience with a timer isn't always appropriate. (How many individuals who've seen the "Mona Lisa" for only a few minutes have said the viewing experience was remarkable and memorable and not insufficient and insignificant?)
More art is being seen by more people than ever because of art fairs.