“If you want to be an icon of virtue, this is the moment because you’ll stand out”
Dave Hickey | 29.10.07 |
Issue 185
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Not only is he Professor of English at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Hickey is also one of America’s best known art and cultural critics, admired for his aversion to academicism and his robust analysis of the effects on art of the rough and tumble of the free market.
Last month he delivered a keynote speech at Frieze: “Schoolyard art: playing fair without the referee.” Here we present an edited transcript.
The lecture is available as a podcast at: www.friezefoundation.org/talks.
The title of this talk comes from a legend about the great basketball player Julius Irving, Dr J, who was famous even in his schoolyard days; he wanted to be a professional player so much that he always played by the rules even on the school yard.
He would call fouls on himself.
Any of you who have been around the art world for the last few years will realise the aptness of this comparison because whatever rules there may have been, no longer apply.
There are people out there who like art more than money.
The only bad thing is that there are a lot of artists who like money more than art.
This is a problem but consider the benefits.
There has never been a better chance to draw attention to oneself by behaving honourably and honestly and meticulously.
If you want to be an icon of virtue, this is the moment because you’ll stand out.If you behave well, if you behave correctly, if you make art that will still matter in 200 years, all you can lose is money.
Did anyone get into the art world to make money? I got into it for sex and drugs but not for money. (cont)
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