Art Advisory
John Baldessari, the eternal return
Last Thursday, January 2, one of the most important names of conceptual art died at age 88. Creator of a complex work where written and visual language merges, Baldessari boldly mixed motives of everyday life in diverse formats where humor was the main character.
By Andrea Cuevas
Why people collect art? Actually is pretty similar to the question of why people make art. The most basic and common answer for that is because human beings has the imperative necessity to express themselves, and we assume it as an unquestionable truth. It is hard to find someone who thinks a person makes art or becomes an artist for making money. On the other hand, when we think in art collectors, the first image to come to our mind is that of a billionaire that buys art as a form to get a tax deduction or money laundering.
What is an icon? When we speak of an icon, we usually think of a person or thing that serves as a representative symbol. However, art has a distinct definition of an icon or “iconic”–a description that differs to a certain extent from the usual and more general meaning of the icon.
Today, the signature of an artist on the work he or she created is accepted as a matter of evidence of authorship, so to speak. We assume that artists sign the most important, most valuable works they have created, differentiating themselves from other artists, and we take that as absolute proof that the artist created that specific work. But, does an artist’s signature mean any more (or less) than this?
Urban art is a different breed of animal for many art collectors. However, it has exploded in popularity along with the increase in the display of large-scale public artworks. It is easy to understand why collectors, both young and old, would want to add these fascinating pieces to their homes and offices. There is a big difference between a work of art on the side of a bur or abandoned manufacturing plant and artwork in one’s office or living room.
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History buffs thrive on the stories that shape our world: Where we have started, the experiences which have shaken the world, and how we arrived at our current location. In the world of art, this history, the journey which a work of art has travelled to arrive at its current location, is called Provenance. From the French word, provenir, meaning “to come from,” it is more than just the story of a work of art’s life or a timeline of ownership; it validates and confirms its value to the owner, even though it can be met with delight or grief, depending on the conclusion. Loosely considered the “title chain” of a work of art, you will find a vast array of different combinations of proof within the provenance of any work of art.
