Rembrant and the agument of the value in art

Here is a post in one of my new found art blogs that I posted about recently. After reading the post, looking at the picture and then reading the comments, I started to think, 'well this is very interesting'.

It's an argument (all though I'm not sure what side of the argument I'm on at the best of times) that I often have, sometimes just with myself if necessary. The argument is about the value of art and where it derives from. In this particular instance linked to above a painting of Rembrandt that experts have decided is not a self portrait by him, but rather a painting of him by one of his students has just sold for US$4.5 million instead of the predicted US$3,000 that would have been more appropriate of a painting of Rembrandt. So then the article and comments go on about how perhaps this buyer knew something no one else did, as a real Rembrandt can and does sell for US$25 million, in which case he got a bargain. And they say how it does look very much like a Rembrandt...

Well, this is the point of question for me. Should an art piece be worth something for who it is by or for its quality? If this painting was of a quality that it was almost impossible to tell that it wasn't a Rembrandt, then should it not be worth the same as Rembrandt? For what is it that made Rembrandt’s worth so much in the beginning, his talent, style etc?

The other side of the argument is of course that Rembrandt was the creative genus behind the style, and the copier of that style was just a copier. And of course the fame side of things comes in to play too; after all, most people would rather have a date with a famous person rather than someone that just looks like a famous person.

In reality, I would much rather have a real Rembrandt rather than a copy of a Rembrandt, but isn't it interesting, how much value we can put onto something and why!

Ranginui & Papatuanuku: The Survival of All

Here are some images I made during Easter while going around the East Cape. And following also are some beautiful words that I found.

"To my mind, the Maori explanation of creation and evolution teaches me all I need to know to understand my role in life and attitude towards nature. My heritage teaches me about concepts such as the integrity and inter-dependency of living things. It makes me quite comfortable with the notion that as a human being I am but one part of a whole and that my generation is also simply one strand in the rope of humanity. It pre-determines that the relationship I have with nature is based on kinship and respect and that in order for me to survive in a culturally rich way, I depend on the survival of others, not just other humans, but also plants and animals in the sea as well as on the land. It clarifies, that both male and female elements, are necessary to create and sustain life, be it human, plant or animal. It provides me with a proven framework from which I can analyse and identify risks and benefits to the well-being of all those areas that form my cultural heritage and encourages me to accept responsibility that in my lifetime I will not contribute to, or allow others to cause, any diminishment to the cultural heritage of my ancestors and descendants, including those yet unborn.
Whatungarongaro he tangata; toitu he whenua
Man will always perish, but the land will remain forever"

SACRED BALANCE Aroha Te Pareake Mead

winter

It always seems that winter is such a busy time in the art world, with many exhibitions being on, art awards taking place, and for photography, it is the best time to be photographing. Also, winter with its tendency to slow us down a bit, it is a great time to contemplate new work. So, I have been busy, although it seems, not with a camera in hand. As often, I find for myself, that the actual taking of a photo is such a small part of photography.

So what has been happening you ask!? Well, the Anthony Harper award just closed on the weekend, as did the group show in Auckland. A group show is opening up end of next week in Palmerston north, and another group show that I'm finishing work off for at the end of August. There are other awards coming up that I am preparing for... that is all without even picking up a camera! I spent a major part of the last two years preparing for my touring show "Whaingaroa", which showed in Jan to March this year around the North Island. This work took up a lot of my time and creative energy, with it over now, I can focus on some new bodies of work. So that is also what I have been doing - planning, thinking, contemplating, writing, drawing, taking some 'sketch photos' and experimenting. All very busy really, but not a whole lot of stuff to show for it really.

Nevertheless, for some proof that I am still taking photos, here is a snap I took of myself a couple of weeks ago while I was out on a photography walk.

Nakedness and our reaction to nakedness

There are so many similarities in each of us, and yet we feel there is so much to hide. Why?

Here is one person's reaction to a naked female mannequin.