expensive artwork

[sv650s]

i was watching jon stewart last night and i saw this van gough painting or something that sold for 135 million dollars and i was like wow. I was just wondering if there's anybody on AF that understands this obsession with paint on canvas.....i understand the whole it's old and classic thing but i just can't, anyone?

[Toksin]

An appreciation for things created from scratch, created with passion, and that have stood the test of time?

Or, just plain old bragging rights.

[jmrev]

beats me, beuty? i dont know man, like i say, what ever floats your boat.

[jon@af]

A combination of what Dave (Toksin) said and the fact that there is nothing else like it ANYWHERE on the face of the Earth, save for cheap imitations. To have something that someone put their being into would be simply amazing. If I were a rich mofo, I'd probably buy a rare piece of art, just to have the 'awe' of it for me to take in whenever I wanted.

[L-Spec]

Don't forget, it's also a very detailed signature. Just like signatures, if the artist is no longer a live and very popular, it will sell for millions. Hell.. even Elvis shaped chips sell high on ebay. I think it's the need to be different, and barely anything else can express it like artwork can.

[vinnym86]

A person who finds passion behind a painting will ask one of us, "why bother paying $200,000 for a Ferrari when you can pay $10,000 for a Hyundai?"


beauty is in the eye of the beholder

[drunken monkey]

because in some cases, those paintings are something that has literally changed the way we look at things and in a way, the way we live.
they have artistic merit as well as historical and social significance and importance.

it really is owning a piece of history and something that can never truely be replicated and is a one in a lifetime chance to own and maybe preserve something that is truely special.

this is in part why there is controversy in modern art that is apparently lacking in these things, especially in an age where graphic designers and advertising agencies seem to be influencing daily lives in the way that the old artists did, which they (the modern artists) do not.

[2.2 Straight six]

you're looking at it simply as canvas and paint. when you look deeper you'll understand.

[twospirits]

Originally Posted by vinnym86

A person who finds passion behind a painting will ask one of us, "why bother paying $200,000 for a Ferrari when you can pay $10,000 for a Hyundai?"


beauty is in the eye of the beholder

So true, but my Hyundai wasn't cheap either.

Shoot if I had the money I would be buying expensive art work as well. But there are a lot of nice art works out there that aren't expensive. The same for statues, cars, etc.

TS

[sv650s]

ok i think i get it, it's basically just passion, loving and understanding the statement a great piece of art? cos as chris said i'm just looking at canvas and paint, i see people pay a lot of money at auctions for paintings and i'm just thinking " dude i can find something better than that for $50 at the mall!"

edit: twospirits is admin? did he take AF from igor by force or something?

[vinnym86]

Originally Posted by twospirits

So true, but my Hyundai wasn't cheap either.

Shoot if I had the money I would be buying expensive art work as well. But there are a lot of nice art works out there that aren't expensive. The same for statues, cars, etc.

TS

that's absolutely true, too. i guess to counter my earlier point, and to give the same example, I love my beat up pos Honda civic that i paid dirt for, rather than our newer toyota camry. the honda's cheaper, older, and in worse shape, but i find so much more love for it than i do my more expensive toyota.

[RickwithaTbird]

but 135 MILLION???? Give me a break. That's a waste of money.

The fact that the painting sold for that much makes me think that the person couldn't possibly love art. If they did, they would be able to find something else they love without wasting that much cash. It seems more likely that somebody who was born lucky and is filthy rich beyond their understanding bought it for bragging rights; rather than someone who has worked hard to earn 135$M and has developed a sense of worth. I just can't imagine this. There's not a single thing on the planet worth $135 Million. At least in my opinion. If I was Bill Gates I'd still say "Fuck You" to that price.

[Toksin]

I think paying that much can at the same time show that you really do care about it and you'd pay any price to have it in your possession.

Loving art is the same thing as loving cars - some people just see cars as a collection of metal with pedals and wheels that eats your money, while we see them as something more.

[drunken monkey]

the only problem i sometimes have is when people buy certain things for PRIVATE collections.
in my opinion, if that particular example is of some importance beyond the aesthetics then it belongs in a gallery for the people.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Toksin

An appreciation for things created from scratch, created with passion, and that have stood the test of time?

Or, just plain old bragging rights.

Kinda like cars