The percentage of guaranteed contemporary works at Christie’s evening auctions increased to 52 percent in May from 44 percent in November, according to ArtTactic. Meanwhile, average prices decreased 15.8 percent.
Tag: 05.28.15
Repressive Middle East Governments Hiding Behind Shiny International Art Buildings
“In this context of repression, it’s clear that whatever the Louvre, the Guggenheim and New York University might say, the reality is that they provide a sheen of high-end respectability to an autocratic state.”
Want To Make Art About Superheroes? It’s Not Easy (As These Leaked Sony Emails Show)
“Gagosian Gallery worked for months to license images of Batman, Superman, Iron Man and Spider-Man for a series by the German photographer Andreas Gursky. More than six prominent Hollywood executives were involved in the negotiations, including Robert Iger, the chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Kevin Tsujihara, the chairman of Warner Brothers, the producer Charles Roven and the chief executives of DC and Marvel Comics.”
Study: Possible To Reduce Prejudice While You Sleep
A research team led by psychologists Ken Paller of Northwestern University and Xiaoqing Hu of the University of Texas-Austin reports it was able to able to reduce prejudice through a combination of conscious brain training and subliminal reinforcement as the study participants napped.
The Product Placements That Are Controlling Your Favorite Music
“The trick is that as with a lot of what’s taking place in the music industry these days – witness the backroom deals between the major labels and the streaming services, most of which leave the musicians out of the equation – the financial relationships are mostly opaque.”
Hugely Successful Theatre With An Unusual Business Model Is Making A Mark On Broadway
“Playful’s ability to commission and develop new plays is subsidized by an unusual business model: the producers take on the workmanlike roles of general manager on unrelated productions in the West End. The principals deal with contracts, arrange auditions and troubleshoot on shows without producing them, specializing in overseeing London musical imports from the U.S. such as Wicked, Shrek and Kinky Boots. It’s akin to running an international restaurant chain while spreading the risk and covering overheads by providing cutlery and menus to rival eateries.”
UK Arts Funder Warns Government Funding Cuts Are Damaging Culture
“In his first speech since becoming Arts Council chief executive, Darren Henley said cuts could halt recent progress in cultivating culture around the country. Arts Council England has had its government grant cut by 36% since 2010. Chancellor George Osborne is expected to outline £30bn of spending cuts to government departments in his next budget in July.”
NYT’s Decision To Not Review Every Movie In Theatrical Release Is A Liberating Moment For Criticism
“Reviewing a popular movie in this way involves a double-edged discernment—a virtual look behind the curtain at the kinds of decisions that brought the movie into being, and a look into the virtual soul of the abstract viewer whose enthusiasm the movie sparks. At its best, the result is a Nietzschean artistic psychology that acknowledges and understands the ways of power. At its worst, the commentary is a blend of armchair sociology and political ruefulness.”
British Museum To Stream A Live Tour Of Its New Show (And You Can Ask Questions, Too)
“The museum has British historian and broadcaster Dan Snow on hand to lead a 30 minute journey through the exhibition’s white marble statues, terracotta works, bronzes and ornate vases. There’ll also be the chance to post questions using the iOS and Android app.”
Netflix Now Accounts For a Third Of All Internet Bandwidth In The US At Peak Hours
The No. 1 subscription-video service accounted for 36.5% of all downstream Internet bandwidth during peak periods in North America for March, according to a new report.