Barcode - Artist for sale

I believe art to be an inner desire of oneself to comunicate either a personal point of view or a personal experience often achieved through either own work or as part of a group. I believe art to be a vocation and not a profession. I believe there is a massive difference between who makes art for vocational reasons and who makes art for professional reasons. I like to clarify these words recalling what once Pablo Picasso said: " A painter is who paints what he sells. An artist is who sells what he paints". I started to become confused and I began to ask my self some question as "Who is a professional artist? A person with a degree in fine art or someone who makes art to sell it? Will my art sell? What price shall I sell it for? What shall I sell?". I create my artworks with the aim of exhibiting what I make and not really with the idea of selling it as I don't believe my art to be a product but I then realized that in our society who makes the rules are the "god money" and the market that it keeps alive. So I have to become a professional of the art business and my art is transformed from what it was supposed to be the result of my intellect, discoveries and work for the enjoyment of interested minds, to a product designed for the pleasure of the mass and the mass is the one that could buy my artworks and so its taste must be considered and satisfied otherwise people will not buy my works and I will starve to death. Is this what they call a social compromise? Do I have to compromise sometimes to the point of even denying my ideals as artist just for the sake to satify the request of consumers and art sellers and fit smoothly in the art market? What is my role as artist in this society? Artist for sale? And when will my works sell better, now that I am alive or when I will be dead? I need to make a living from what I do so, I am another artist for sale among millions in our society. Go on art sellers put a price on my works and stick a barcode on everything I do.
 
 

Reviews

[Helena]

I enjoyed this wrote very much. Certainly gave me something to ponder. Its kind of a catch22 situation. I dabble in oils as a hobby. Would hate to have the 'pressure' of having make a living out of selling my artwork (if it was any good that is!). I am a great believer in following one's heart, but I can understand the dilema of an Artist who has to survive out there in the world of commercialism.

One can always get a sponsor, like Van Gogh (just kidding).

Regards,

Helena