Pleased to meet you, Tsjalling Venema. Pt. 1
Tommi Brem, February 1st, 2010
Tsjalling Venema is what one would probably call a “young collector”. I guess you’d be able to call him that in twenty years time. I can not imagine his personality to drop that atmosphere of youth just because the earth keeps revolving around the sun. He is from the Netherlands and if you ever get the chance to meet him, do! But beware, his passion and excitement are quite contagious …
Here is part 1 with pictures:
(Text only over at IC: → http://bit.ly/bI9iZ3)
Well, Tsjalling, the two collectors before you have asked two questions. One regarded the situation of which artwork you would put back in the fire to collect insurance money for and Randi asks “Why did you buy your first work of art?”
Which question would you rather answer? And then please tell us why you bought your first artwork, this one is somewhat mandatory …
I guess I’ll have to answer both of them then…
When I was fifteen, I started collecting autographs of famous and less famous artists, because I thought I couldn’t afford buying real artworks. This way I met a local artist [Lode Pemmelaar] who had the same hobby. We became friends and when I ran into one of his (cheaper) silkscreens in a gallery, I bought it. After this I found out that you could find artworks at a reasonable price, so I started buying more and more.
“Untitled” – Lode Pemmelaar
The work I’d leave in my home when on fire is a photo by Wim Bosch. Definitely not because I don’t like it, on the contrary! But it is a work with a large edition and I know I can still buy a new one. I’d leave it because I put a wrong frame on it. I’m friends with the artist now, and he likes his work to be stuck on aluminum without glass in front of it. Not the way I framed it. So maybe this way I could put it right.
The wrong frame.
In the Netherlands, young collectors can get very cheap loans to buy art. What’s up with that? How does that work?
With the KunstKoopRegeling (art buying scheme → link) you can get an interest free loan. This is only in selected galleries though, but most larger galleries participate in it. The government funded Mondriaan Fund pays the interest for you, and you have to make a deposit of only 10 percent. It’s possible to get a lone from 450,- EUR to 7000,- EUR , so also experienced collectors can buy works of art.
Now that’s nice, to allow the experienced collectors to participate as well, isn’t it? Did you ever buy your art on such a loan?
No, I didn’t, because you have to have a fixed contract with your employer and I didn’t have one until a year ago. (This part of the scheme sucks! The strange thing is that you can get a loan if you’re on government benefits or as a student.)
How about a proper “stipend” for collectors? Here is an idea: Why not shift all the arts funds of a country from museums to stipends for collectors? Is that a good idea or a stupid idea? I can’t decide …
First something else: I heard that in Germany you don’t have to pay taxes for art, in The Netherlands you do. It would be a great idea to make buying art tax free, although I am not sure it would really make a difference, because the taxes aren’t that high (6%).
Actually, you do pay taxes on art. Most of it comes in at 7% but, at least as far as I understand it, your Wim Bosch edition for example would clock in at 19%. Why did I bring this up? I don’t even like the topic! And there still lingers the idea of a “stipend for collectors”. I have a hunch it is a bad idea …
Museums are a great way to explore art if you are new to it, they are a feeding ground for “newbies” more than galleries are. They are also a place where artists can present themselves to bigger audiences. Their influence on the general public is very important. Collectors don’t have this influence. They are good for the production of art (read: the artist), but not so for the showing of it, as most work stays “at home”.
Then there’s the question of who you should give these stipends to? Who will buy what art? Sorry to say, most people don’t have a very accomplished taste, they go for things they understand, as you can see for example of the winner of the popular Dutch Artist of the Year election, Ans Markus (→ link) Most people wouldn’t vote for one of my favourite artists, B.C. Epker (→ link) , although his work is owned by more museums. Do you think most people would buy a work by Sol LeWitt or Joseph Beuys? I don’t think so.
So let’s keep those stipends coming to the museums, so the general public will see these artist we collectors care about!
Wow, your last statement made a knot in my brain. I was actually thinking of giving the money to collectors who have already shown that they have taste. But then you would need a jury or something to decide whether you, Tsjalling, qualify or not … this is too complicated. I agree. Let’s give the money to museums. At least then we can complain about them buying boring stuff.
In the second part of the conversation, Tsjalling talks about his “The 100,- EUR Collection” and responds to the question what kind of advice he would give an experienced collector …