The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics Of Contemporary Art (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
over all it's a great read. the author did a good job covering many (if not all) aspects of today's art market, from a economist's(/VOP) view that is.now, the questionable bit, before reading this book, or even given much thoughts about the art industry, I believed MOST 'art products' are no differ from expensive cars and watches, contemporary art as we know it are even more like those 'pump and dump' scheme. It seems Don Thompson's conclusion is quite similar. the demand of art collectibles is essentially people's vanity, for that people built a whole industry (advertising,marketing,manufacturing) to supply it. the whole process seems less related to art value itself. To analyzing it as an industry, whether a collectible(or the market) is inflated, what are the indicators\trends. why isn't it secularized (i can think of a way how on top of my head), and ect. those fields aren't discussed in this book which i thought it should. above all, it's a good read, an eye-opener. (for me) If you don’t follow art trends within the market then you will hate this book. It is a lot of numbers about sales, and the only reason it would be thrilling to a reader is if they’re interested in professional art. Working as an art handler on and off over the course of 2011, I had a very limited view of the art market. I understood that it was a game for the rich, and in many ways, fixed. The $12 Million Stuffed Shark may not be 100% factual but it will still open your mind to many realities that, until now, have been kept hidden. What is the difference between an art dealer, a gallery, and an auction house? Why is contemporary art catching up in prices with the old masters? Why do some artists with limited talent still get into big galleries? Is art a good investment? Why is it so important to be branded? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this book. If you are planning to go to art school, become an artist, or already are one, this is a mandatory read, especially if you hope to find even a little success in the gallery system. This has warped my thinking. I feel as if many of the mysteries of the art world have been revealed. I feel like an insider now. Thank you Don Thompson.
What do You think about The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics Of Contemporary Art (2008)?
Lol, gave me more background information helping explain why I hate Damien Hirst.
—preet
Very interesting. I'd recommend this with Seven Days In The Art World.
—Scar
