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?

I’m a bit funny when it comes to humour. For one, I constantly make incredibly awful puns. And I have a hard time accepting humour in a number of genres. Science Fiction for example. No jokes please!

I guess this is due to my own weird sense of humour. Which is why I laugh about drum-solos, for example. Contemporary art however, can be so extremely funny it continues to amaze me. Just now, I had a look at some works by Erwin Wurm (link). Namely the “Looking for a bomb” series (#3 is my favourite, see, I promised links!).

This is so incredibly funny. Especially the way the people look in his photographs. I think this is probably one of his main skills. Make people look dead serious. Apart from the other things he does that don’t include people.

Yes, Erwin Wurm is one of my favourite artists. What other artists could be thrown in the same bucket?

I don’t even own a single piece of art yet, and I’m already hooked. I’ve been scanning the web and gallery websites ever since I came back from Basel on Friday. I looked for affordable editions. I even wrote to someone on flickr who had a nice collage online. That’s how desparate I am!

“MUST HAVE ART NOW!”

Anything! No, not really anything, to be honest. I can hold myself back quite well these days. The sense of urgency however is extremely strong. I wonder whether that’s normal.

If you readers out there are collectors, maybe you can remember the time before you had your first piece of art. Would you say you felt in a similar way? Were you craving to own art as much as I am now? Or did it all start for you when you bought your first artwork?