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12/05/2005: "THE SUPERBOWL OF ART"

(MIAMI BEACH) - The arena is set, the players are in place and the
spectators are speculating.

It's the pinnacle event for the National Football League. Cream of the crop
teams going head to head. The stakes are always very high.

For Art Basel Miami Beach 2005, it's the same game, different turf. Long
before I marched into the Miami Beach Convention Center for this euphoric
event, I decided that I was really going to be very alert and soak it all
up. I would be a sponge ... a fly on the wall ... a fly on a sponge?


Anyway, yes indeed, Art Basel Miami Beach 2005 was about art. In a
gargantuan way. It's too rich for my blood, but it's truly ANY art lover's
paradise. Upon entering, it became immediately clear that I would be
overwhelmed if I didn't come up with a quick game plan. So, I decided to
pass to the left and knock off one booth at a time. Perfect. I'm still not
certain that I saw all of the 2000 offerings, but some of my favorites
included: David Salle's orange-swirl, oil on canvas concoction called,
"Explorer" 2005. It's 96" by 120" and features jet planes in flight and a
fedora in the middle. In this single painting, Salle captures many of my
own thoughts about art, travel, life and why more men should wear fedoras.
He is clearly someone I could have lunch with.

I also loved Fernando Botero's still lifes. They aren't pudgy like his
people, but they're politely plump with that misty, glowing sensuality that
he has perfected. One look at "Watermelon" 2002, his 15" by 15" depiction
of two melons sitting on a table in a mellow room, makes your mouth, well,
water.

James Rosenquist always leaves me spellbound. All I need to see is his
signature on a giant, blank canvas (has anyone tried that?) and I'm sold
(rhetorically speaking, of course). Fortunately, "Screen Test" 1978, his
gigantic oil and metallic paint on canvas makes much more of a dramatic
statement. It's a fantastic orchestration of a close-up of a sunglass
wearing, woman's eye along with a "swooshing" paintbrush, an upside-down
safety pin and upside down book with what looks like transparent container
lids and red, blue and green polka dots. I don't know what it means, but I
love it.

Also, I was dazzled by the dark drama of Israeli artist Avner Ben Gal's
untitled figurative pieces that employ heavy felt pen markings on paper.
They're jolting, black, smeary paintings that are great. The artist is from
Tel Aviv.

Despite everything I saw and loved, I had this nagging feeling that Art
Basel Miami Beach was really about what we don't always see. Then, I
witnessed it.

There were dozens of famous galleries with display booths here. I walked
into one of them, which had advertised a painting by a famous artist in one
of the art magazines. I was disappointed when I didn't see the piece. I
asked one of the people manning the booth about it and she replied, "Oh,
that sold already!" When I asked how much it went for, she said,
"$650,000!" That sounded like a high enough figure to me, but immediately,
her male colleague snapped at her and said, "No, it went for higher than
that!" He was actually angered by her response.

LIGHTBULB MOMENT!

To the casual observer, Art Basel Miami Beach is a wonderful art fair that
has grown by leaps and bounds in only four years, but make no mistake, this
spectacle is a numbers game. It's about SCORING BIG! It's about the sale
and keeping galleries in business and for some collectors here, it's not
about keeping up with the Joneses, but rather, leaving them in the dust.
Competition amongst collectors? No!

I'm not kidding. Here are some of the things that I overheard people saying
... "She's gotta do a crapload of business just to break even!" one guy said
about a dealer. "I told you it was higher than that!" another man said
about a painting's price. "What? I can't afford that!" said one exasperated
woman. Join the club, babe.

The only thing that outnumbered the paintings were people using their
cellphones. I heard one man on his phone say ... "Buy, buy, buy! Just
buy!" One woman said, "Honey, please! You should see the light in her
hair! She's so beautiful!" She was referring to a really nice painting
that she obviously wanted, but needed spousal approval. I thought it was
nice, too. Gee, I hope she got it. I heard another guy, also on his cell
tell a woman in his presence, "Sheila just dropped over 4K!" The woman
replied, "Oh my God, what did she buy?"

It was a blast. Oh, and you know the "Power 100" rankings that the
magazines do every year about the top movers and shakers in the artworld? I
counted about a half-dozen of them here. I kept recognizing people from the
big, ArtReview November issue. Sadly, I did not see Damien Hirst. I
suppose that being Number ONE means everyone wants a piece of you.

Wondering about prices? That's why I'm here! Here are just a few of the
paintings I asked dealers about:

Jean Michel-Basquiat's Untitled diptych 1982, 60" by 120." $3.2 million. I
asked the dealer if she thought it would sell here. She didn't really
answer the question.
Pablo Picasso's "Femme Couche et Flutiste" 1967 drawing, $650,000.
Claudio Bravo's gorgeous "Green Package" 76" by 51" oil on canvas.
$450,000.
Also, David Salle's "Explorer" piece that I mentioned earlier had a pricetag
of 250-grand.

Don't get me wrong. There were more "affordable" works to be had. One
dealer, selling lots of small Alex Katz drawings told me they were $2,800
each. Now who can't afford that?

Shortly after, I was talking with an art dealer acquaintance who I met up
with briefly about the steep prices. I said, "I would LOVE to see someone
walk out of here with a painting!" The dealer replied, "Oh, like the
affordable art fair?" "This is the UNAFFORDABLE art fair," the dealer, who
was also a visitor, said.

The air in the exhibition hall was definitely charged with selling fervor.
It's all about money and one might ask, "Shouldn't it be?" After all, this
IS an art fair. A charming disposition will get you a free program, but
that's about it.

Finally, I still left with a nagging feeling about Art Basel Miami Beach
2005. I heard a few people talking about artists in such back-handed,
disposable ways. All of the art had taken on lives of their own. The
paintings were the unquestionable stars of this show. This fair isn't really
about artists, although I'm sure many were present. It's really about
people and their chance to get what they perceive as a hot commodity. Art
stock that they hope will rise sky-high in value. A nest egg, if you will.

To be fair, it was clear that most of the people here really do love art and
it was great to witness the excitement. However, would they still LOVE Sean
Scully's 90" by 72" beautiful, "Red Black Robe" 2004 oil on canvas if they
knew it would never increase in value?

Clearly the stakes are too high to even consider such a silly question.

Money, careers, reputations and collections are being built ... or broken.
Of course, this is nothing new. It's "Business 101." Just like the NFL.
Still, it's always stunning to see your beliefs confirmed before your very
eyes.

After only a few years, Art Basel Miami Beach is the "Superbowl of Art."
Cry "penalty" if you want, but no one will hear you or even care. They're
all too busy competing for that big art trophy.

MICHAEL CORBIN IS A WRITER AND AVID ART COLLECTOR

Replies: 16 Comments

on Thursday, December 8th, $+$=0 said

Really Markus, I don't care what you do at this point. The only reason I have been returning to this site is for the bantering with you. I think the corporate crap was the Absolute Final Straw. I no longer read or look at anything on the front page. That corpoRATe expando banner makes me run straight for the blogs. And well, my running shoes are wearing out and so is this discourse. We don't know each other and most likely never will.

This site had potential. To see it go the way of all the other greedy web sites is disapointing. I thought this site had dignity for being a webste of art, and artists. Now it looks like the artists are getting raped once again. So many artists are so use to be taken advantage of they don't even know it and agree with your adding advertising. Show a picture of you sleeping in that mercedes and maybe...

The heck with it markus, you went in the wrong direction. So be it. Good luck!

on Thursday, December 8th, $$$ said

If the money aint great then keep the trashy corporte crap off the site!

on Thursday, December 8th, Markus Kruse said

$$$$$ You are absolutely right. I sold out to Beck's Beer! You are absolutely correct I sleep in my stinky 25 year old Diesel Mercedes Wagon.

Do I know you????

on Wednesday, December 7th, $$$ said

Gee Markus, you sold out! Of course you will support your own demise. I can't wait for those corporate rats to start telling you what should and should not, show on your website. Of course you'll take the money and cower. Whatever, enjoy your money.

on Wednesday, December 7th, Ed Baron said

Thank you Markus: It needed to be said and you did it very well.

It almost seems necessary at times to educate artists about "protocol" and overcoming built in resentments by artists who are either unwilling or unable to comprehend when, who or what mean them well, or have their interests at heart.

Of all the art sites out there we selected wwar.com as the best of the best. Not only do they have the best artists, the search engines love them and they have provided an effective forum for artists and for sales. What more can an artist ask for?
You want to see awful art? Talk to people pretending to be artists? Try sites like artwanted.com and artscuttlebutt.
Support wwar.com and each other and everyone benefits.
Thanks again Markus.

on Wednesday, December 7th, Markus Kruse said

In response to "$$$$$", "boycott". Thanks for your comments regarding the banner ads. It would help if it was a little more constructive than the old blah, blah, blah... I hate banner ads and want life to be a handout just for my personal ego!

If you really take a real look at the Rolex banner ad, it is an ad about artists working together and learning from each other. Rolex is supporting the arts in many forms with their Mentor and Protege campaigns.

How can you be so blind to their support for the arts. Maybe it is envy? Wouldn't you love to work with Hockney? I think it would be a once in a lifetime chance.

Think about why Rolex supports the arts? Is it about selling their watches? What is their motive? Study how European companies and governments have a tradition of supporting the arts. It is a disgrace how little the US Congress appropriates for the arts in this country. But, maybe that is why so many citizens in this country are so uneducated when it comes to the arts. How many households have "Chinese or Mexican" versions of a nice landscape view of a cute cottage or seascape hanging on their walls? Maybe Wal-Mart is going to offer the $15.00 original painting soon. How does that affect the cultural development and understanding in this country?

Of course there is a monetary reward for absolutearts in showing these banners. If you had been a little more aware about the history of absolutearts you would have noticed that Rolex has been supporting the arts here for the last four years.

Welcome to the Internet!

on Wednesday, December 7th, Andrew said

As I re-read the last two sentances a thought came to my mind about how no one listened to Van Gogh, either. The end of the century phenomenon is showing us just how far man can fall from magnificence. Trophys...trophy wives in exchange for love, trophy cars, in exchange for self esteem, trophy art, in exchange for having an opinion...

on Wednesday, December 7th, Sparky said

Logic says one who would vociferously protest banner ads and call for a boycott probably has zero in the bank and thus is the least likely to actually surf the site and pay for something on it. If making money were the sole interest for those who own and operate Absolute Arts, surely they would have picked a business model more lucrative than art. And, surely it would not have mooches complaining about commerce on the site they freely use for the own pleasure. Perhaps those calling for a boycott would prefer to pay steep annual subscription fee to use the site ad free. Bet is not one complaining sponge would step up to that idea.

on Tuesday, December 6th, Michael Fornadley said

Really people you should check out the rest of the ad and watch the video part of it. Found it interesting just watching the younger artist handle his materials.

on Tuesday, December 6th, boycott said

boycott this site until the banner ads are stopped!!!!!

Stop the greed !!!!!!

SAY NO TO BANNER ADS !!!!!!!!

on Tuesday, December 6th, Barney Davey said

In the case of the Superbowl, the winner is clear. We even know how much the one-minute ads cost ... about one Basquiat painting. On the other hand, art often requires interpretation, apparently even the price of a piece recently sold needs interpretation.

Michael, keep up your interesting slant. It's a refreshing perspective. A side benefit is it seems to bring out nameless whiners whose angst can be usually counted on for a laugh.

on Monday, December 5th, Brad Michael Moore said

I'd just like to see the aa-bb again. How seriously or foolishly should we consider Art Basel? Either we blog here and now, or it's lost to something else later. I naviagte this site and can find no notice over why the borads are down or, when they'll return. I'm starting to relate to $$$$$$$$.

on Monday, December 5th, $$$$$$$ said

absolutearts finally sells out !!!!!!
banner ads replace artist site links.
corporate rats take over.
rolex schmolex
money grabbers
greed wins over culture
web owners shopping for new mercedes
artists throw money away on non-productive portfolios
web owners buying import beer instead of domestic now.
art schmart say web owners money is honey
grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
new car caviar four star day dream
think I'll buy me a football team
ABSOLUTE ARTS SELLS OUT !!!!!!

on Monday, December 5th, paul said

Michael,good blog,and a good description of art sales american style,its admirable in a way,because it doesnt contain the class system,which always accompanies such events in England,although that too is intertesting to observe,and maybey such gatherings do reflect something of a nations foilbles,in the show you describe,money is the oil of it all,and loads of it,and interestingly more is spent on art in the states,probably more than anywhere else,certainly Ive done well from collecters american in my time,rather than the stuck up english ones,who tend to buy something only if their friend does,who is a rare bird if english.Of course the scenes you talk of have an unhealthy side we could go on about justifiably,but overall it sounds like a spectacle worth going to.

on Monday, December 5th, Andrew said

Art Basel in Basel had one of its worst years ever last year. One of the reasons in the past few years it has been spreading itself to other venues is because not enough people are going to Basel to buy. Like Art Expo in New York and San Francisco. The organizers need to sell booths, and they do. Art is not what their interest is. Promotion of the event is accomplished by talking about who has already reserved booths, and if enough of them are sold to the right people, the wrong people all flood in when they're told that by an Expo salesperson. We don't know if the 'right' people actually pay for their triple, quadruple, or bigger booths. We only know they draw in the rest of the suckers. And virtually no one ever admits they bombed. There is an unsaid threat that if you don't have a booth at these places, then you're a nobody. I know a lot of wannabe gallerists who can't wait until they can afford to rent a booth. And a lot of dilettante art gallerists who can afford one, and rent it, and then tell everyone they were there, and how well they did. And then you go to their galleries, and see all the same stuff they had before. Sad. The logic behind this is, if everyone sees you driving that BMW, then they'll all think you can afford one. Even if you bought it on a hundred a month for a hundred years plan. Michael, you wrote this one from a different stance than you usually take. Nice to see something new.

on Monday, December 5th, yogurt said

The quintessential optimum corporate art debacle is Art Basel.

It should be called Art Banal.

Shiny slick glossy garbage.

Stick a finger down your throat Michael, it's time for you to throw up.