(3 of 13) THE ART MARKET IS LESS ETHICAL THAN THE STOCK MARKET: CHUCK CLOSE

[capi7al]

art is a business

[TruthAboveEverything]

"There are no charlatans" - Correct if referring to artists, they are mostly unfortunate individuals who can't even handle a simple job. Art dealers though... I would say a HUGE % of that group went into the art market because they were too scared to become drug dealers. They realized the art market was a "legal" business where thay can scam people BIG TIME and get away with it unharmed... PURE CHARLATANS!

[aneoaneo]

"There are no undiscovered geniuses." Thats a very safe comment.

[rf2056]

Chuck Close's statements reflect an undistilled mixture of romanticism (the ultimste judgement of other artists), Catholicism (no undiscovered geniuses), condescension (the subtext being that he himself is a genius and thus 'discovered'). None of what he said answers the problem of unethical art market practiced. He only celebrated his own success--the apparent heir of Bougeureau.

[Whatever3114]

Words of wisdom. Chuck Close speaks very clearly about the speculation in art.

The conclusion is phenomenal - In the end the other artists will judge your work, and it is this that will or will not make your art long lasting, and of value (in my words)

[Artsultan]

The art world is not a business? How many top contemporary artists are now creating works in a factory-like system, employing hordes of art proles who slave away producing the "artist's" work? Oh, that's not a business.

Mr. Close, who stumbled into his gimmick in the mid-60's (giant blow-ups) and has been regurgitating it ever since, is, of course, not a part of this business model, right?

[sixdumboutlaws]

@Artsultan mmm I think your missing the point

[Artsultan]

The art world is a meritocracy? Was that a joke? It only takes a two minute trip to Chelsea or Williamsburg to confirm that it is largely made up of rich dilettantes and pretty brats -- no merit there, unless by "merit" he was referring to the skill and effort it takes to claw your way into the art world.

[C4ContemporaryArt]

I thought it was good. I'd LIKE to think that the 'no undiscovered genius' comment that people seem offended by was actually a cynical one - referring to the mechanism of the manufacture of geniuses... meaning that one cannot have a 'genius' (specious term at best) UNLESS one is RECOGNIZED through mass consensus as such, independent of how gifted they actually ARE.

[whoisbbg]

@C4ContemporaryArt dis nees be up n top cmmnces

[gunkadin]

Has Chuck ever had his ego measured? That'd be an artwork in itself.

Personally, like most artists, I only champion dead artists because I don't need more competition. The only livning artists I champion are my homies.

[wallynewcar]

three words: wow.

[midnightpooper]

the charlatans are the agents not the artists.

just like american idol, some people do think they are good and the families won't say otherwise.

great marketing can sell anything.

just look at the cozy.

[kentheseer]

2:40 "there are no undiscovered geniuses"

Chuck,

There is only one true genius, and he will be given the unpopular job to turn the table on all the not enlightened artists and the even lesser intelligent money changers.

[zoas41]

It's easy for Chuck to be an optimist, he's in a great place to be one. "No geniuses go undiscovered" >Vermeer wasn't discovered until the nineteenth century. Only about 40 or so Vermeer's have survived. Who can say something like that with such certaintity? What an ego!!!!!

[WyndhamL]

retarded. chuck can natter on about value, he's made tons of money by teh market system and act like the market doesn't exist, and like there's not really any money involved. oh, and yeah, no geniuses go un discovered, whatever, at this point, that could mean...whew.

[heart106]

chuck close is terrific

[williambrovelli]

Chuck Close carried the debate, Jeff Koons could have added an interesting twist: