Art History: Interpreting Exhibitions.

Art History : Interpreting Exhibitions

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25 January 2007

Synopsis

There is an underlying theory in the art world that states modern galleries are more focused on bringing in money than they are with presenting new and interesting ideas within art . Exploring the so called blockbuster exhibitions Turner Whistler Monet ' and Dresden Mirror of the World ' reveals that while this theory does seem alive in reality , the opposite is also true in modern society . Since the conception

of artist union 's and minimum wages , museums have struggled to keep in business and bring in the money necessary to stay afloat , and it is because of this that we see the modern tendency towards blockbuster art exhibitions and big profits . The basic factor that determines how a modern art gallery is organised is simply down to a fundamental code of morality of both curators and the artists who choose to display with them

List of Figures

Figure 1 : Funerary Storage Jar , circa 2300 B .C , China

Figure 2 : The Jane and Arthur Mason Collection , created by Todd Hoyer

Figure 3 : Beyond Bs : An Exhibition of Fine Art from Canada The Thinking Man ' from Paul Cavilla

Art History : Interpreting Exhibitions

Introduction

Artists rely on the fact that their work will be presented in galleries and museums for people to see . Aside from the primary aim of the artist to express himself and challenge conceptions of the viewing public , he also needs to make a living while doing so . Museum and gallery curators understand this principle , and in fact most of these institutions run on exactly the same principles . When a gallery presents an artist 's exhibition , where do its concerns lie ? Are the organisers simply trying to expand the philosophical horizons of their attendees , or are they looking past aesthetics and social commentaries to see what kind of money can be made from sales

Curators pride themselves in their ability to not only discover , but to showcase and sell great art in their venues that will appeal to viewers and hopefully present some new ideas into the conversation . Certainly a lasting quality of art exhibitions through the years is the ability to present an artistic embodiment of social opinion and of unspoken hopes for the future of mankind . Amidst the barrage of blockbuster art exhibitions , however , it has become difficult to tell whether the curators responsible for such shows are trying to present what they truly believe to be cutting edge art or if they are simply attempting to cash in on a general artistic opinion already held by the public Pieces of art that have gained the admiration of a handful of revered critics can be known to sell for thousands of pounds . Are art exhibitions set up merely to help curators make money , or do they indeed exist to challenge normalcy

The Art Workers ' Coalition and Statement of Demands

In 1969 , the modern artist Takis created a controversial movement when...