On the art of patronage

And the relationship between money and art:

Money and culture have never been easily disentangled, nor would one want them to be, considering that culture is by no means cost efficient. But there are different forms of patronage and different kinds of entanglements. And culture is now in retreat before the brute force of money. Even the most easygoing commentators can see the writing on the wall, and some critics who might have been expected to be amused by the Cattelan retrospective have not enjoyed the show. Who knows? Maybe they’re tired of partying in a funhouse where they will never be more than dinner guests. As for the people who buy and sell Maurizio Cattelan, my guess is they don’t give a damn what critics—or for that matter museumgoers—say. 

Yesterday's post on Andy Warhol here.

(Image: "Worm's-eye view of Maurizio Cattelan's 'All' retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. Italian-born artist Maurizio Cattelan is considered to be one of the most provocative contemporary artists of our time. His controversial work draws on today's popular culture, history and organized religion in a profound way." Designboom/Alessandro Ghirelli.)