Or: My third artwork on its way to the desert.

Above is a 13×18 Patina Painting by Karin Sander. I bought it last week. This is what it looks like now. In approx. 48 hrs, I will unwrap it in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA.

The painting and me are going to attend Burning Man. From Sunday (local time) to Sunday I will carry it around with me, in the open. The desert will be allowed to create this patina painting. My next post will be around September 3rd. With the patina painting finished.

See you all later!

Or: The Faust-ian dilemma of the curator/collector.

Obviously, the metaphor limps like a one-legged porcupine, but there is some truth in it. I came onto this topic because over at Independent Collectors, there is, I guess, more than one user who is not only a collector but also an artist, gallerist or curator.

Yes, the platform is there for collectors to meet and to show their private collections. What if someone starts creating exhibitions that contain not only art they own, but also art they present, promote or have created? Since there is no discussion forum over there, yet, I decided to throw the question at you, my readers. Simply because I assume that a lot of you are registered with Independent Collectors.

What about the curator-collectors? Is it ok for them to present, alongside their private collections, other exhibitions they curated and that have a link to their private collections?

I think: Probably yes. If they add a collector’s edge to it. And if they don’t use the system as an advertising billboard or for push-marketing.

What about the artist-collector? Is it ok for them to show art they made and own?

I think: Maybe. For example if an artists owns 10 of his own artworks that he or she would never ever sell for some reasons. I think this could be where the artist-collector becomes a split personality, or even two separate entities.

In general, I strongly believe in questioning the very nature of collecting and what makes a collector. But maybe that’s because I’m new to all this.

What do you think? Should Independet Collectors imply a strict policy, prohibiting the upload of art you do not own or art you made yourself? Or should a flexible concept be applied?

Or: Art can be hard on your wallet.

In my last post I wrote about the artwork “48.085″ by Rudolf Reiber. I visited him again last Monday and I bought the piece. (I took my wife with me to see how she feels about it. And since she positively jumped in when it came to payment arrangements, I guess she is ok with it.) It is the first large work I bought and it feels amazing. Rudolf will probably come over to my new flat in October to hang it for me. I will post pictures then.

This artwork really tears a hole into my wallet. In fact, it exceeds the art-budget I had set myself for 2008 by approximately 150 percent. But you know what? I don’t care. If you compare it to other “hobbies” like deep sea diving or smoking, this is absolutely ok. Speaking of budget …

I also bought a piece by Karin Sander (link) at galerie mueller-roth in Stuttgart (link). Spontaneously. A “Patina-Bild” or patina painting. A small one.

The idea is that the owner places the painting in a certain place, where the canvas is altered by the environment. I heard that someone placed one inside his letterbox. Or behind the rear window of his car. Or behind the cooker. I will take mine to Burning Man. (link)

I will publish another post on Friday night, just before I leave for the airport with a picture of the “clean” patina painting. The next post after that will be the painting after 7 days in the Nevada desert.