Real or prop II

To my surprise, Kay also received the same letter of threat that I got last December. As she rarely opened her mail box, it's become a delay for 7 months. Just curious if there will be any other artist in this building who got this letter.

Why are artists poor?

Posted from Decentre book project:

Why are artists poor? is the title of a new book by Hans Abbing. You won't find simple answers in it but Abbing does a nice job of describing the intricacies of the art milieu and the many complicated reasons we keep on keeping on, e.g.:

Table 4.
Aspects Contributing to the Exceptional Nature of the Economy of the Arts

1. The valuation of art products tends to be asymmetric; one group looks up to the high art of the other group, while the latter looks down on the low art of the former. (Chapter 1)

2. In the arts: (1) the economy is denied; (2) it is profitable to be non-commercial; (3) commercial activities are veiled. (Chapter 2)

3. Art and artists have an exceptionally high status. (Chapter 1)

4. Artists overlook or deny their orientation towards rewards. (Chapter 4)

5. Top incomes in the arts are extremely high; higher than in other professions. (Chapter 5)

6. The large majority of artists earn less than other professionals do. Hourly income is low or even negative. In the modern welfare state, this is truly exceptional. (Chapter 5)

7. Despite these low incomes, an unusually high number of youngsters still want to become artists. The arts are extremely attractive. (Chapter 5)

8. Beginning artists face far more uncertainty than the average beginning professionals. (Chapter 5)

9. Money represents a constraint rather than a goal for many artists. (Chapter 4)

10. Artists are (more than others) intrinsically motivated. (Chapter 4)

11. Artists are (more than others) oriented towards non-monetary rewards. (Chapter 5)

12. Artists are (more than others) inclined to taking risks. (Chapter 5)

13. Artists are unusually ill-informed. (Chapter 5)

14. A combination of myths reproduces misinformation about the arts. (Chapter 5)

15. Artists more often come from well-to-do families than other professionals. (This is even more exceptional because usually the parents of ‘poor’ people are also poor.) (Chapter 6)

16. Poverty is built into the arts. Measures to relieve poverty do not work or are counterproductive. (Chapter 6)

17. The arts are characterized by an exceptional high degree of internal subsidization. By using non-artistic income artists make up the losses they incur in the arts. (Chapter 6)

18. The gift sphere in the arts is large; subsidies and donations comprise an unusually large portion of income. (Chapter 2 and 8)

19. Unlike other professions, the arts do not have a protected body of certified knowledge. Anybody can access it. (Chapter 11)

20. Unlike other professions, there is no formal control of numbers in the arts. Anybody can pursue an arts career regardless of their qualifications. (Chapter 11)

21. Many informal barriers exist in the arts. (Chapter 11)

Hans Abbing, WHY ARE ARTISTS POOR? THE EXCEPTIONAL ECONOMY OF THE ARTS (Amsterdam University Press)
ISBN 978-9-0535656-50-5
€ 25,90
http://www.aup.nl/do.php?a=show_visitor … 0535656505
--
Robert Labossiere, Managing Editor, YYZBOOKS

Reality TV

Just done the 72 hour-workshops (actually 96 hours!), and felt excited and exhausted at the same time. It was so experimental that we always were not sure what would come next. Issues of anxiety and emotion there reminded me Survivors all the time. It's more than an art project.

Steal

leungchiwo.net now has become leungchiwo.com only because the .net domain has been cancelled, of course not at my own will. A month ago I got an expiration notice from my web host that the auto renewal of my domain registration was rejected. Immediately I fixed the payment method and and thought everything was fine then as I noticed they have been receiving my hosting fee. Then no more warning, I received a cancellation notice of my .net domain which said they couldn't help at all, After a few email inquiries, I only got the same answer. Being so frustrated, I followed a few links and found out who bought my domain. The evil is now the same web host can help me to negotiate buying back this domain at a commission plus service charge. So, you see this is how the domain business works. I don't think my .net would worth much. However, instead of buying it back, I decided to spend the money (and more time) to register another domain (.com) and to print new business cards. Maybe I'm silly but I feel better.

Para/Site Art Space seeks a new Executive Director / Curator

Para/Site Art Space is the leading non-profit contemporary art organization producing, exhibiting and communicating local and international contemporary art since 1996.It is located in Sheung Wan, close to the center of the city. Our main activities include presenting a programme of 10 exhibitions a year in our main exhibition space together with a variety of local and international venues outside of our space. To compliment our programme, seminars, talks and workshops are regularly organized. We also manage Para/Site Central, the smallest exhibition venue in Hong Kong, which is hosted by Hanart TZ Gallery. Para/Site Art Space was involved in various overseas exhibitions such as the Gwangju Biennale 2002 and the Venice Biennale 2003, Guangdong Triennial 2005 and organized Pearl River City – a touring show that traveled through Europe from 20006 – 2008 .Para/Site Art Space also hosts the Para/Site Art Space – Hong Kong Jockey Club Curatorial Training Programme.

Para/Site Art Space is run by the Executive Director/ Curator assisted by a curator and an office manager and governed by a Board of Directors. Apart from receiving support from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council as well as vital contributions from patrons and sponsors, our space also raises funds through an annual art auction.

A suitable candidate should have experience as a curator and a profound knowledge of international, especially Asian contemporary art and curatorial practice.

A potential candidate should have a clear vision to further develop Para/Site Art Space and the Hong Kong art scene in relation to the changing world of the contemporary art. The Executive Director is responsible for the daily operation, the planning and realization of the yearly program as well as budget planning. It is essential to liaise with the art community as well as the funding agencies and sponsors. Experience in publishing, drafting proposals, fundraising and book-keeping are essential.

The Executive Director is responsible to plan, lead and develop the Para/Site Art Space – Hong Kong Jockey Club Curatorial Training Programme.

Applications close 15th July 2008
Please apply via email including a CV and an application letter with your visions and goals for Para/Site Art Space to Tim Li, Chairman of the Board of Directors –
timli@para-site.org.hk.

For more information please contact Tim Li.

charity

The recent disasters really hurt. We all look for some kinds of healing. Donation not only helps the people in need but also comforts the soul of the donors who witnessed the vulnerability of human beings. Just read an article by Qiu Zhijie on "why and what to donate?" as an artist. Very inspiring!
Tobias is organizing a fundraising auction for the disasters tonight. It's good while we feel the urge to help out in China, we don't forget Myanmar.

Art Auction for the victims of the Earthquake in China and the Myanmar Cyclone

Organised by Para-Site Art Space and 10 Chancery Lane Gallery
Friday 23 May at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, 10 Chancery Lane, Soho, Hong Kong
Auction starts at 8pm sharp.
Art works and gifts donated by
Hanart TZ Gallery, Ooi Botos Gallery, Jean-Marc Decrop, Rossi & Rossi, SinSin Fine Art, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, ShContemporary

also supported by:
Asia Art Archive
Burger Collection
Sovereign Art Foundation
Sotheby's

All proceeds will be donated to Medecins Sans Frontieres

Absentee Bids: Please contact Tobias Berger at tobias@para-site.org.hk or tel. +852 25174620

Podcast with Xu Zhen

Xu Zhen, artist, also Co-founder and Artistic Director of BizArt, Shanghai talks about his organization with reference to the development of contemporary art in China in the last ten years. Mandarin, 48 min. 藝術家徐震，上海比翼藝術中心的藝術總監，在十年中國當代藝術發展的語境中，談說他參與創辦的藝術空間。（普通話，48分鐘）
Listen