Shouldn’t Artists get a Fair Slice of the Cake?

For the past few years art has witnessed a rapid transformation becoming one of the prime alternative investment options. Art has done so well to a point that art has managed to out-perform most global stock markets. Everyday one can read about how art-works are breaking news sales records, even works by new artists and those from emerging markets are achieving high prices. There is one fundamental question to be asked; are most artists benefiting from the surge in art prices? The sad answer is no.

One point that should be considered is that it is the artists who make the industry tick, yet they benefit the least. There is an old saying, “don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg”. Today’s art industry resembles the goose that lays the golden egg, yet its forgotten that the goose came from an egg and the artist is the egg that made the goose. I have personally observed many artists slave to produce art-works and it’s not an easy feat. Artists put in a lot of time and effort, they have to dream up new ideas and visions, and have to be totally absorbed in their work. At times artist have to block themselves out from the outside world. The fact is most people haven’t taken the time to do a proper cost analysis to determine what kind of input both materially and emotional was used to produce the artworks.

Artists also have personal responsibilities to cater for such as bills, personal and family expenses and these pressures result in some artists selling their art-works for a song. Many talented artists succumb to these pressures and end up getting disillusioned and decide to quit the trade.

There are numerous stories where artists get short-changed as some art buyers take advantage of the artist’s desperation. One such story is where art-buyers approach a talented artist and takes the artist to a remote part of Zimbabwe. The art buyer takes photos of the artist posing by huts. The art buyers then take the photos together with artist’s art-works overseas where they approach art-collectors with a sad story how the artist in question is a near destitute and by buying the artists art-works the art-collector will helping the artist. What the art buyer is basically praying on is the art-collectors sympathy. What must be understood is there is no self-respecting artist who is looking for sympathy, but appreciation for their talent and art. Furthermore the proceeds from the purchase don’t normally filter back to the artist, as the art buyer would have bought the art-works for a nominally cheap price and the sympathetic purchase price stays in their pockets.

Another true story is of a certain art-buyer who during the period of turmoil in Zimbabwe would purchase paintings from artists. The art buyer would go to Germany where he would tell tales that the particular painting in question was done by an artist who was a victim of political violence and as a result is now deceased. With such a tale the art-buyer would receive a premium price from art-collectors who would have bought the story. Today those so-called deceased artists are still alive and well and none of them accrued any direct monetary benefits from their temporary deceased status. Another incident that I witnessed recently was at the sculpture studio of one of Zimbabwe’s world-renowned sculptors. A Dutch couple was interested in particular sculpture and the sculptor quoted a price of US900 and the couple made a counter-offer of US30, an amount that would not even cover the cost of the raw materials. The sculptor politely asked the art-buyers to shop around as his sculpture where worth more than US30. Another artist later remarked ”had they come to buy art or tomatoes”.

This phenomenal is not just prevalent in emerging nations but is worldwide trend. One always hears tales of struggling artists even in developed countries. The fact is that there are struggling artists because they are not getting a fair deal. The artists continue to produce art and their art continues to be bought but at depressed prices. With the amount artists receive for their art there are basically living from hand to mouth. What is needed in art industry is for a balance to be struck. In other industries it’s a common business philosophy that by giving a person a decent salary, quality and productivity improves. As an old quote goes ”give a person peanuts and you get a monkey”.

There can be a win-win situation if a proper balance is struck especially when taking into consideration of artist’s welfare and their input into their work. The people who have more to benefit will be the art-collectors, as the artist’s art-works will improve in terms of quality and innovation. For artists to achieve such quality and innovation they need a stress free environment, where they can focus on their art-works, but that can’t happen if their thoughts are continuously distracted. I have seen talented artists who have decided not use their full potential and focus on making mediocre art-works as they feel they is no need for innovative ideas if there are to accrue the same benefits with mediocre art-works.

At the end of the day it is the art world and art-collectors who stand to lose most as artists start to play it safe or opt to copy current trends, instead of producing original and innovative art-works. The art industry should seriously look at addressing these issues and art-collectors should take time to reflect and consider the long-term implications if these issues are not addressed. The art industry could be performing well, but most artists are struggling. The truth is that most artists don’t want a life of struggle; all they want is for their works to be appreciated to live a comfortable life. Give artists fair remuneration for their art, and they will give you the most beautiful and innovative art-works. Remember it’s the egg that made the goose that laid the golden egg.

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