There are less and less people who agree with “ experience in person” or this was made the artists hands as being high value. High value today is the talking point that I own “xyz” artist. It is to show others you have taste or money. Not that you understand “Aura” or appreciate “Aura” of the art work. ( Walter Benjamin) Most people don’t care.
Go to any museum on “free night” you will clearly see vapid consumerism at its best. It’s social hour with a twist of “ can I meet someone here tonight that’s artsy?
Galleries ( brick and mortar) are in decline. Yes, they are still there, but less than 40 years ago. And not making money. Auctions houses are making money, only because they know how to leverage the market, most galleries do not!!
Go on line now, and see any piece of art you wish “ for free” and read about quickly to gain the talking points. In 5 minutes you can move on to something else, or another idea, website, etc. see it ! Throw it away! See it , throw it away! Repeat until you have consumed the world . In between martinis! Cheers!
Reminds me of a true story that happened to me a few years back. I attended the Association of International Photography Art Dealers, or IPAD, as it's more commonly known, held at the Park Avenue Armory, in NYC. Dealers from around the world meet there and set up sales booths of their photos. There were lots of Ansel Adams B/W prints. Many dealers apparently sell his stuff. I saw three different Sunrise over Hernandez prints. One dealer had his at around $80,000; another at $115,000 and the last at around $140,000.
So I'm standing at the last dealer, the one with the $140,000 edition, when in flows this attention-grabbing couple. He, a rather ordinary fifty something year old dressed to kill, and she, a knock-out blond about half his age. So I overhear him telling her, "This is nothing. My Hernandez cost me $180,000." As they drifted away, he had a smile on his face. And she, well, I think she was impressed. I was. But not about the $180,000. Or that he had an Adams's Hernandez. I was impressed that he had such a young, hot girlfriend. Even the dealer selling the Hernandez seemed impressed as he winked at me in agreement.
Seems to me he made a good investment.