Dear Tommi, congratulations on your first trade! The “Do-It-Yourself” hammer by Günther Uecker really is a nice piece and this first transaction breathes life into our one year long bet.

What’s the status now? I’m behind. Which is a disadvantage. On the other hand, of the two Monks, only one is left. And I have that one. Which is an advantage for sure! We’ll go separate ways from now on. It’d be a strange coincidence if a fellow collector would want to trade with both of us now.

I’ll be waiting for an offer I can’t refuse, one that makes it easy for me to part with the witty Monk edition forever. And for all of those who are still holding back, I have two good arguments why they should make me an offer right now.

First: The Monk edition is obviously a very rare one. Much more so than Tommi and I had anticipated. A little while ago, when we were shooting the first Art Expedition in Berlin (which will be published at Independent Collectors in July), we had the chance to talk to Jonathan about it. He told us that he had simply used all blank pieces of paper he had at hand at the moment. And he guesses the number to be around eight. It’s not a 100% definite fact but an educated guess by the artist himself. And eight is not a very big number, is it?

Second: My trade offer is not only a beautiful small work of art; it will also mark the beginning of this unusual bet, forever. It may be that our project doesn’t attract a lot of attention. But maybe it will. Who wants to look back and regret not having made that first trade? Back then when the first object was still available? Only Christian Pfaff (who is trading with Tommi now), and one other, still unknown collector (maybe it’s you?) will know that they have been the fastest ones.

Dear fellow collectors: We’re willing to trade!

On offer are an early Uecker from Tommi and now only one young Monk from me. Modern or contemporary art, which rocks your boat?

1872: The British gentleman Phileas Fog claimed in front of the members of his Gentlemens’ Club in London that he would be able to travel around the globe in just 80 days. And got himself a bet. This story might be a work of fiction, invented by Jules Verne. But I’m sure: Daredevil bets like that existed and still exist today! With a budget to boost and time to spend, people engage in competitions for the longest hot air balloon ride, the fastest trip in a rocket driven car or for the deepest dive without any technical support.

Tommi and me don’t have that sort of money or time at our hands, and we certainly don’t want to risk our lives for this 12 month long bet. We still want it to be thrilling! We will get to know collectors we don’t know today and we will discover artworks we haven’t heard about before. But only if YOU decide to participate! No matter whether you’re living in the USA, in Germany, in the Netherlands or in of the other 67 nations represented by the members of Independent Collectors. Tommi and I will trade worldwide. If we like what you have to offer …

Our first, equal offer is a wonderful, small work by Jonathan Monk. Like Tommi, it hurts me to part with it. Monk had folded a few sheets of blank paper for the recommendable art institution Art Metropole in Canada, and printed on them the words “A PIECE OF PAPER. FOLDED. UNTIL NOW. JONATHAN MONK. 2008” and completed them with his signature.

Jonathan’s ideas appear to be simple and funny at first sight. But then they start to reveal depth and subtlety. Is this about the relationship between artist and collector? Is the artwork being “disturbed” by unfolding it to actually view it? Does the interpretation of a work actually “destroy” the original intention behind it?

As I said before, it hurts parting with this work. So, which other work could soothe the pain? What could rouse my interest even more?

Ladies and Gentlemen, place your offers!