Art Performance of Value

When at the opening for an Art Exhibition a visitor knocks into an art work; this piece made of wood... not special in any aspect of material only through being imbued in value as a result of the process, status and person of this Artist -


Reactions-
-A dumb surprise of this visitor
-A frantic "White gloved" effort by two or three members of gallery staff
-The words and approach towards the dangling swaying object by the Artist
"I wouldn’t worry too much about that, it is going to move"


This reaction by the institution, although over the top, is completely necessary as this object has been assigned an immensity of value, beyond the wildest imaginings of the materials which constitute its being.
For this is a high art gallery and all objects of art here exist as a construction of value rather than their constituent parts.
The people who have manifested these objects are the assigned high priests of materialism.
Through this context a conversion of value has taken place.


What has happened?
The physical has been impregnated and saturated with thought, with idea, with narrative, with placement and belonging to then become the exulted?


It is beyond simple for the sudden return of this material back to the mundane and normal, so effort must be rigorous and immediate if there is risk of this return.


This entire context requires a massive expenditure of energy to maintain this illusory and privileged status.


Is this authentic?


The Artist may act with a freedom and relaxedness that is not allowed or appropriate for any other person/s present.


Any act of the artist will continue to assign the art ‘stamp’ of exulted value.


Any act towards the piece by another person pollutes this and so devalues the exalted (unless this act has been invited by the artist).


Is the object dead?
Is the object alive?


With wealth anything can be possible?


The vision and genius of another person can be attained and owned so long as an object can change hands?


what do I believe?
what do you believe?
Is this truly possible?


This is perhaps not about right/wrong/true/false


only


...if this can actually happen in the manner that such effort is made towards its happening.
Should this situation be a deception then, the maintenance of this deception is integral, as otherwise the flow will terminate and the entirety of this illusory construct will collapse.


This cannot be allowed to happen!
The wondrous ease by which this cake is made feeding so many very hungry mouths.


Perhaps
more 
hungry
than
starving


Those who are starving are more often the subjects than the players in this materialist transformation game?

​

Gallerist nose picking ‘performance’ in front of drawing by Marc Bauer, frieze London 2019