SEVEN DAYS IN THE ART WORLD

author:
SARAH THORNTON

Non-fiction
256 pages
Norton

What is art? This is always a very difficult question, and one that has been addressed in countless conversations held by those from the cultural upper echelon all the way down to teens with spray paint and a few stencils. In Seven Days In The Art World, Sarah Thornton makes no distinction as to what defines art, but rather provides the reader with a riveting insider account as to the way the art world functions. While much of this world consists of cocktails and caviar, much of what occurs treats art as nothing more than a commodity where a work’s value and a buyer’s portfolio acquisitions supercede beauty and talent.

As the title suggests, Seven Days In The Art World visits seven separate functions of the current art world, these consisting of: The Auction (places like Christie’s where the last paddle up in the air takes home the prize), The Critic, The Fair (Art Basel), The Prize (The UK’s Turner Prize), The Magazine (Artforum), The Studio Visit, and The Biennnale (Venice). Thornton interviews some of the “elite” within the art world, and while many of her confidants acknowledge how contemporary art has become a circus of sorts, all seem to revel in their status and standing.

For those interested in art, Thornton provides an incredible peek inside arenas that are normally off limits to those of us without credentials, money, or connections. Like any industry, there are rules and protocols within which any painter, gallery owner, broker, or buyer must operate. For those of you that thought otherwise, you are in for quite a surprise. You may just wish that you were never let behind the curtain.

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