Friday, June 15, 2007

Friday Flashback: June 15, 2005

Let The Bidding War Begin!

Art Basel is in town once again. I've read a couple of articles on Swiss Info about how the value of artwork is exploding. One article said that the art market is "...estimated to have grown by 25% [in 2006] - and the boom is expected to continue." However, it was a quote from another article that really caught my eye:

"There is no control over the prices, which can double from year to the next, even if the artist never had a personal exhibition or a real career...It's dangerous for youngsters with no experience who might [go] off in directions they might have never taken without financial success."


Danger...Schmanger! I'm gettin' in on the action, and you're welcome to be a part of it. However, ya better act quickly...because my prices are going up, up, UP!!!

If you'll recall, I went to Art Basel two years ago today. After viewing a lot of the artwork, I decided to improve on a piece that I had seen at the show. At that time, I set the price of this work at CHF 7,500 (Sorry, I had to cut off my signature from the bottom of the masterpiece because I want to avoid identity theft.). Now, if the price doubled from 2005 to 2006, and then doubled again this past year, I guess that puts the current price at CHF 30,000 (approaching $25,000 U.S.). Of course, the price is negotiable...but not much. I mean, Mrs. TBF and I have gotten used to it sitting in a prominent place in our living room, and we'd kind of hate seeing it go.

I still haven't done the "all black" painting like I wrote about in my post from two years ago, but I think that'll have to wait because...

I saw this painting in the article about Art Basel 2007, and...I kind of like it. I think I'll get out the old paints and go about duplicating this one too. Naturally, with some of my own improvements.

You know how you look at things at an art exhibit and say: "I could do that!"

One of the differences between me and you?

You COULD, and I...DID!

3 comments:

CanadianSwiss said...

This "art" thing is so ridiculous. I worked for a guy that had a painting hanging in his office worth about CHF 25'000 (and that was about 10 years ago!!)

The "masterpiece" was a forest green square and it was called "red". Know why? Because the "artist" had used red under it and covered it with dark green once the red coat was dry. Duh!

I guess I'm just too dumb to appreciate that kind of "modern art", and you know what? It doesn't even bother me.

Colon Blow said...

I like contemporary art, but within reason. However, the "forest green" mentioned above by CS would probably be lost on me too.

Now your art work, well let's just say it is probably an aquired taste.

Stick to photography. You have a good eye for that!

Mark said...

TBF, hang in there. Keep on practising like the old masters did. If Picasso's crooked faces with their triangular shapes have become well known, than why not the "Lines Of Life" by the TBF?? One day my friend, one day your creation may start a whole new era of art: CONFUSION!