Does the creator matter?
We can't afford it.
Why should only the elite see it?
These are justifications for forged art that were expressed on the recent NPR On Point Show entitled Faking Fine Art. The above rationalizations made by Laney Salisbury were then followed by a caller who stated If fake art is so much like the original isn't it worth as much as the original?
The show centered around an infamous case of a painter and con-man who worked together to create forgeries of master paintings. Unfortunately the show missed a major point and fell into a sort of collective mentality that assumed there was no ownership to an idea or creation. The imagination and originality of an artist, his courage and hard work, are what make art.
Aesthetics is a philosophical system with definite values. Values that rank highest include thought, imagination, conception, originality, creativity, authenticity, identity, vision, etc. (See Table of Aesthetics for more on this.)
Let's take a look at the above justifications more closely:
We can't afford it. First of all there are thousands of original artists that one can afford, support and enjoy. Secondly if you like something well enough why don't you search it out in a museum or, dare I say, make more money so you can afford it?
Why should only the elite see it? This disparaging term insinuates that the elite don't deserve their rewards and that they are hiding the art from the masses. Possibly it is these elite who empowered the artists to rise to even greater creative heights. Both of these remarks are degrading to artists and patrons of the arts.
If fake art is so much like the original, isn't it worth as much as the original? See above comments on the Table of Aesthetics. This is ultimately for the buyer to decide. The consumer must live with his purchase and if ethically he deems a fakery to be worth his money in gold then that's his choice. Just don't try and pawn off a fake on me.
Salisbury also mentions that there are two reasons to buy art: 1) Beauty, 2) Collection. Again both justifications for fakes, that is, if a fake is beautiful then it's okay and collectors are too wrapped up in provenance to recognize the beauty of the work. But another reason to buy art (and note there may be many others) is the idea behind the art or inspiration one draws from it. A fake does not hold up to this reason.
Unfortunately many artists will be drawn in by this show and use it as a "reason" for their lack of success in the field. I hope that they can see these comments for what they are and lash out in the field with their own courage and originality and thereby succeed.
posted by Robert Castagna at 5:53 AM
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