The Mona Lisa Curse

Happy Monday morning!

Last night I nestled down on my sofa to enjoy the delights of veteran art critique Robert Hughes on Channel 4. ‘The Mona Lisa Curse’ is the first of a new season, ‘Art and Money’ which essentially intends to comment on art as a commodity in the modern age. Whilst I often feel that 2 hours is too long to sit through a documentary (my mind starts too drift relatively easily),  Hughes maintained my attention with his sharp, droll wit, melancholic tone and reams of art historical knowledge. I was sad when it was over. Primarily focusing on the changes he has seen throughout his career as an art critic both in Europe and New York, Hughes puts forth the familiar argument with gentle ease, that art has is being celebrated and idolised. The decadent circus which surrounds its aggrandizement solely of the purpose to stroke and fondle the egos of the wealthy, ignorant and tasteless. Hughes goes so far as to suggest that as our society devours all depth of meaning from historical or popular art, we shall eventually be left with the question ‘why do we even make art?’ resounding through the corridors of ever vulgar auction houses such as Sotheby’s. And when this happens we can be rest assured that art has died.

It is a shame that Hughes’ arguments are not considered with more gravity by those involved in the art or picture-making world. It is so increasingly poignant in industries such as illustration where the easy procurement of fast food images often times ignores the talent and skill behind art. Where money, fast deadlines, money, ego, money are king and pure artistic appreciation is sucked out of the process.

But it is not only the future of image-making industries, artists and art itself that suffer from, what Hughes termed, the ‘feeding frenzy’ around the commoditization of art. Museums are out of the game. Hughes touches on the role of the museum in the art world as it stands and its inability to play in the high stakes bidding battles for works of art. To that end, art is no longer property of mankind as it hangs on the walls of some rich bod’s million pound mansion, it is private, for a certain type of wealthy only. Not for the eyes of those willing to be educated. Hughes calls this ’social harm’.

Perhaps, for me, the saddest part of it all is the rising demand for antiquities to feed the insatiable hunger of those shopping for art kudos. Museums and private collectors alike, acquiring pieces of history freshly chipped from an ancient temple in Cambodia nestled deep in the jungle, pots newly lifted from sunken vessels in the middle of an ocean somewhere or jewellery recently ripped from the skeletal remains of once respected ancestors. It is a sorry state of affairs when human greed for greed’s sake has reached such a point that we plunder ourselves, denying our children and their children the opportunity to learn about our past so that we can momentarily gloat. Glory and honour in the theft our history. What a peculiar phenomenon.

As the feeding frenzy for ego-inflating tools intensifies, both art and archaeology loose their meaning. I believe that Hughes is right on the button in ‘The Mona Lisa Curse’ and his words should be heeded and applied to the wider picture.

All rather depressing on contemplation, but it is our responsibility to do something about it and we still can. To be aware and to save, as artists, our industry and truth in artistic expression and as people and parents, our heritage and that of our children.

Catch the rest of the Art and Money season on Channel 4 from 18:30 every sunday.

Over and out,

Siobhán