Most of the painting that I see today are derivative crap. It’s largely being fronted by bullshit galleries that continually lower the bar and standards of unsuspecting clients that are unquestioning and seeking status qou. ‘There’s a sucker born every second… ‘ And they are counting on that. It’s baked into cash flow models. But I digress — these (above) are very cool, thoughtful paintings.
It’s like being Richard Avedons’ assistant waiting until Richard dies and then trying to copy Richard, stylistically, by doing the exact same photos that Richard pioneered and then wondering why no one appreciates THEIR work. (Hang on… It get’s crazier). Or better, no one buys it. Other than the unquestioning and incurious (see above). That’s just sad, isn’t it? Copying shouldn’t lead anyone anywhere, other than to post World War II Japan; and at least Japan value added 10% before handing it back off again. If brands like Ralph Lauren just recycle past design (with little or no value-add other than it’s made in China and the mark-ups are ridiculous) and steal other designers designs. It’s not hard to see how that ethos prospers. It’s an easy lay up. Everyone that’s lazy or dumb, can steal and prosper! How else can it be explained? But then again — RL won’t get cutting edge clients — just the unquestioning and incurious ‘status quo.’ Like I said — it’s a lazy persons dream but a spiral downward ultimately for the platform that it sits on. Copying never pushes society forward — it actually stagnates society physically and psychologically.
What does copying produce?
A sea of crap.