Art Collections a Click Away

When we talk about art, subject often revolves around artists and artworks. Little is said or known about art collectors. My recent visit to the Chicago Art Expo and a newly made friend who is a gallery owner triggered an interest that led to a little exploration into the realm of art market and art collectors.

Images from EXPO:

And since this blog was originally created as a requisite for one of my course that dwells into technology, most of my post in this blog will have some relevance to technology. One recent article that I was immediately drawn to was one with heading “Art Collections a Click Away”.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/arts/design/art-collections-a-click-away.html?smid=fb-share&_r=2& 

Technology has not only serve as tools and means to for art expressions, its accessibility and convenience seems to have distanced us from first hand-experience of viewing art in galleries, museums. In the current art market and art collectors world, I learnt that art collectors are increasingly skipping the first-hand physical experience of viewing the artwork and buying ‘sight unseen’ through internet images. As shared in the article, it’s just a click away!

For someone with limited and conservative knowledge of how gallery works, it is interesting to note that the online art market scene is a vibrant one where technology plays the key role of facilitating research of art, promotional tool and as bidding mechanism at auction. And there seem to be a rising trend of such online art transactions where works of art are bought without physical viewing. 

I do not dispute technology is both efficient and effective in the commercial world of art, especially works that are of lower value or for new collectors just entering the art market. I am curious what do collectors look out for when they view works online that determine their decision as compared to those bought after onsite viewing. This also sets me wondering how do we attain the engagement and desire of one in looking at original artworks on site when technology offers a quick alternative access.  

Relating this to art in education, I think of the implications of the pipeline of artists and art collectors we are developing for the future. While we constantly strive to stay relevant by harnessing technology to enhance the experiences of our students who are digital natives, I strongly believe we still need to invest time and resources in the school curriculum, to cultivate students appreciation of art through varied experiences, one of which should include authentic experiences at museums or galleries. Seeing reproductions online or via print will not give the same experience onsite as all artworks may appear the same; similar texture; challenging to ascertain the actual size and scale. Seeing works of art in actuality bring students into the work of art’s presence i.e. seeing the enormity of the work of art gives the ‘wow’ moment, generate intellectual meaning as well as deepening emotional responses to the work of art.