IsÊartÊonlyÊforÊtheÊelite?
Robbie Antonio spent millions for his Museum of Me. Is art a rich personÕs sportÕ
A rt is only for the elite. Ó Now, thereÕs an idea.
Recently, Vanity Fair published a piece on real estate developer, Robbie Antonio, owner of an art collection of about two dozen Þnished at the last count, amounting to more than $3 million, as a homage toÉ well, himself.
Nestled in a house designed by Rem Koolhaas, AntonioÕs collection, Obsession, revolves around a singular theme: portraits commissioned by the 36-year-old from artists like Takashi Murakami and David Salle.
Many have derided Obsession, calling it vain, narcissistic, and even irresponsible. As a Filipino, surely Antonio is aware of just how poorly a majority of his countrymen live. DoesnÕt he know he could have sent thousands of children to school with the money he spent on recreations of his face?
The question here is: Is he responsible for anyone else but himself?
GOING BIG
As someone who has lived with art all my life, I canÕt really fault Antonio. Guy is going big! Sure, it may be a callous thing to ßaunt when you live in a country where sometimes diarrhea isnÕt survivable, and maybe itÕs a little funny to see several iterations of a super-conÞdent dude in iconic styles such as HirstÕs spin paintings and SchnabelÕs plate paintings. But thatÕs what he wants to do with his money.
How different is this, really, from celebrities who openly ßaunt their designer bags, sports cars, and vacation homes? Maybe heÕs simply a big fan of these artists and wanted to buy pieces that were personal to him.
(Similarly, Paulino Que exhibited part of his own collection of artistsÕ self-portraits at Finale last year, in a show called ÒImagining Identity.Ó ItÕs interesting to note that Antonio does not seem to have Filipino artists in Obsession that we currently know of.)
AFFLUENCE AND PRESTIGE
Remember that throughout history, possessing large art collections has been a sign of affluence and prestige. The UfÞzi Gallery in Florence, Italy is largely comprised of the Medici familyÕs personal art collection, which includes Sandro BotticelliÕs The Birth of Venus. RomeÕs Galleria Borghese contains the Borghese familyÕs collection, which is where youÕd Þnd a lot of BerniniÕs iconic sculptures.
We have seen many important works of art, which are ultimately just portraits of royalty and politicians, sometimes, even gods and saints. Do you remember the awe that hung in the air when youÕd see commissioned Amorsolo portraits in a friendÕs living room?
To think that art is only for the elite is a little misinformed, though. Sure, we canÕt all be Robbie Antonios, spending millions of dollars on frivolous things like Schnabels and Salles, and even a Koolhaas house. Though, I honestly would if I could.
The truth about art is that it exists for everyone, especially for those who are in love with it.
NORMS AND NOTIONS
Time and time again, the usual norms and notions of art are broken down by people whose style and vision are rejected by the art snobs and purists who saw and understood art only within a Þxed structure of ideas. ÒArt is whatever you can get away with,Ó Andy Warhol said once.
You donÕt need $3 million to amass a collection of art that you love as much as Antonio loves his. Sure, there are people who can freely commission works of art, but these people are rich.
Know that there are also people like Herbert and Dorothy Vogel, a mail sorter and a librarian who have, in their lifetime, amassed a collection of 4,782 works by artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt, Takashi Murakami, Cindy Sherman, and David Salle, just because collecting art was something they wanted to do. The VogelsÕ collection is thought to be one of the most important collections of post-1960s work, and they have donated it to over 50 institutions because they believed that art belonged to everybody.
SWAP PIECES
Many artists swap pieces with each other, building their own collections without technically spending any money. I know a number of genuine art lovers, much like Herb and Dorothy, who donÕt really make nearly as much money as Antonio, but keep a space open for art they truly love and are moved by.
Perhaps itÕs easy to dismiss art as something that belongs only to those who can buy Hirsts and Rothkos. But thatÕs just a very, very small representation of the art world.
The explosion of pop art is arguably what brought art to the masses. Owning art can be expensive, but you donÕt have to own something to enjoy it. ThatÕs why there are museums and galleries. ThatÕs why there are books and the Internet.
DonÕt let a man in a suit with money to burn make you feel like you canÕt enjoy art anymore. The mere enjoyment and experience of art makes it, in some ways, belong to you.