Statement
With my work I question, disrupt, deconstruct, and parody the art market. I see the art market not only as an omnipresent facet of the art world enshrined in elitism and prestige but as a pivotal determiner in the success or failure of an artist’s career. My work challenges this paradigm and proposes possibilities for a more democratic artistic ecology, one that prioritizes access, affordability and quality over fame and class.
In the current market, the success of an artist can hinge more on external acclaim and attention rather than creative expression and authenticity. As stated by philosopher Georg Franck, "Attention by other people is the most irresistible drug... This is also why it is becoming popular in our society to rank income in attention above money income". I use my practice to poke holes in this relationship and to experiment in creating alternative constellations that prioritize greater accessibility for all.
To deconstruct the art market, I create new experimental models through which everybody can participate, in a way that is affordable and yet plays with the game of prestige. Through multiple new media participatory artworks, I create opportunities for people to participate in the speculation of an artist or an artwork, in an environment independent from societal conceptions of success or market value. The models my practice proposes allow artworks to retain low fiscal prices, whilst having fluid speculative values. Through these experimental participatory projects, I place the power of valuation into the hands of every person and out of the institution, collector, or company.
These models work like viruses in the art world. If the artworks involved in such projects are shown and sold by institutions, those art institutions (who play an integral role in creating the fame of artists) accept that their decisions and power can be questioned by any person, of any status. These playful interventions take steps towards the dissemination of influence and the democratization of participation.
To make such inquisitions, my work engages with both online and in person environments. Functioning as a democratic medium by nature, the internet is a platform in which art can be accessed by everyone. I utilize this medium, as described by Manuel Delanda as "the new materialism”, in combination with physical experiences to create hybrid artworks that straddle both worlds. My practice seeks to construct multi-modal sites of inquisition through which I engage directly with participants to collaboratively challenge the art market establishment.
Other Texts by DHAdmann
Non-Concept and Anti-illustration