I just read this article about street art being sold at auction. "Bringing the Streets to the Saleroom: Urban Art Back at Bonhams"
Bonhams is a big auction house and the artists include Shepard Fairey and Banksy. The art is made up of art that was bought from the artist awhile ago and now the purchases are making big bucks at auction. Here's what Banksy said, "I don't agree with auction houses selling street art - it's undemocratic, it glorifies greed and I never see any of the money." The article also says that his piece Keep It Spotless, sold for a staggering $1,870,000, at another auction house.
Do you agree with Banksy? Should urban street art be sold like more traditional art in the auction houses of the world? Do these sales reflect the rebellious and free creativity of the street art movement? What do you suppose will happen to the edgy street art we see if this money-making trend continues?
First of all I believe a true artist isn't composing art just for the money but mostly for the passion. Because Banksy already sold the piece it isn't fully considered his. Once it is purchased I believe the person has every right to resell or do whatever they please with the piece. Secondly, Traditional art and Urban street art still fall under one category which is art. If people are interested in purchasing a piece I think an action house has every right to buy it and auction it out to make a profit. People can become greedy but it is the way they make a living.
ReplyDeleteI just have to say that any type of art is art, which means it can be sold, traded, etc. In this case I feel like I have to give my biased review.Since this "Street" art has been sold, it clearly stripes it own title away of being a "street" art. Its just another type of art plain and simple. When you do something especially if you call it street art then by unofficial urban rules it cannot be sold or traded. It is there to represent something or to give something a meaning or to make a boring neighborhood stand out. So bu the own unofficial urban rules, once street art is sold, then it is no longer street art. I mean literally when you sell street art its like you are selling a piece of meaningless clothes. I'am not saying that all art is meaningless once it is sold, it is just for street art, it's a whole different standard and expectation for it.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Banksy.He should be proud that someone would buy his art for $1,870,000.Banksy claims auctioning art promotes greed but he complains he never sees the money made off of his art,that sounds greedy.I think if the art is truely street art then it would not matter where the art is sould.The art should make it urban street art,not how it is sold.The reason the art was created makes the art rebellious,if it is auctioned the art still represents the same ideas.I think the art being auctioned will expand street art,because more people will see street art and it could inspire new artists.
ReplyDeleteIn other words I disagree with Banksy. Street art should not be sold as regular art. Once it is sold street art loses (to me) its rebellion and free creativity. I suppose if the moneymaking business focuses its grip on street art, then street art will just become art that is sold.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with what Banksy had to say. I think that the auction houses should be able to sell the art even though it is street art. It's still art and that's what the people in these auction houses want to buy. I do not think that the sales change the rebellious and free creativity of the street art because the art itself does not change. If the money-making trend continues then I think that street art will become more popular and then others will probably purchase it.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Banksy because I think that you should sell your artwork at a auction then on the street. You shouldn't because people will just buy anything because they think it is worth something.
ReplyDeleteJoseph
I disagree with Banksy because if he is making street art and selling it than the person who buys it has title to the art. The art no longer belongs to Banksy. Also art is can be anything you can't label it as "Street art" because art is art. although he is being taken advantage of it since he isn't getting any profit from the sold artwork he sold the ownership of the piece. If the person selling the artwork is claiming that he is the artist then that would be plagiarism in which I would feel that it would be wrong to sell the artwork as the original artist
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Banksy because street art is like art sold on the street which can be worthless buying and people will have no interest in it. You also make less money and people can buy art for cheap. Also street art can be worth a lot to the artist and can have feelings to the artist. I rather think it is safer to sell your artwork at a auction because it is worth more and people can have a connection with your art. Also it most likely will be treasured and not treated like a piece of trash.You can also make a bigger profit of your art.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Bansky. What other people said, about him being grateful that his art is wanted, is very true. Since it is Bansky's own art though, and he chooses to make it not in a frame to be put up in museums, but he chose to create art that will be available to the public. Not for it to be auctioned off and belong to someone. If he would want to make a profit off of his artwork especially with his talent he has, he would be able to! And yet he chose to make it open to everyone, and for not even himself really to reclaim it. Basically, his artwork, his choice. Unless the money being made off of his artwork is going toward charities that ACTUALLY benefit those in need.
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