Recently, there is an increasing interest in new and emerging artists, both locally and internationally. Many contests, exhibitions, fair and awards are being organized for discovering and supporting new talents. We had a conversation with the renowned curator and academician Marcus Graf on how he discovers new artists, the importance of emerging artists both for collectors and the art world.
What is the concept of “emerging artists”? Could you explain us this term? Does it have a direct relationship with the age of the artist or the prices of their works?
Age and prices could be a hint or indicator but not a definite sign, as the evaluation of an unknown artist regarding his integration in the art scene is complex. Talking about emergence, of course, we mainly talk about art’s context and not the production of art itself. In general, the term “emerging artist” describes an artist, who newly enters the art scene or art market and starts to gain visibility and recognition by taking part in important exhibitions, working with leading curators, being represented by a professional gallery, entering strong collections and getting good reviews by art critics.
These mostly young artists are usually at the beginning of their career, and have been already spotted by art experts, who believe that they can reveal next possible trends. It is not necessarily connected to sale, as often these emerging artists are positively reviewed by art experts, but at the same not yet fully involved in the art market. The market always reacts a bit slower than the development of an artist’s work.
Why is this concept so popular in Turkey and in the world nowadays?Emerging artists are so popular, because they represent the newest tendencies within the art world. Like every scene, also ours constantly requests new faces. The audience wants to discover artists and see unknown works. That is the secret and chance of the possible “success” of the emerging artist. Though, I cannot say, that I like this kind of fast-food attitude of our all-over-consuming art world. I favour the opposite. Strong art should not be easily consumable. It also has nothing to do with age, career or ego. It is much deeper and therefore challenging. That is why it enriches your life.
Why are emerging artists important for collectors? Why do some of the collectors choose to focus on emerging talents?
Currently, many collectors, like many gallery owners and curators, want the fresh stuff, the new works, the young artist, the upcoming star. Only then, they can make a real impact on the scene, plus gaining a remarkable profit at the same time. Though, the situation is also paradox, because on the one hand, they want to have the popular, known and common in order to catch a certain approved status quo, which gives them access to our exclusive club of art lovers. At the same time, they also want to posses the unique piece that nobody has in order to be avant-garde and important. Especially investment-wise, emerging artists are interesting. They carry the highest risk while having the potential of the highest profit. Also, collecting young and contemporary art is relatively cheap and very hip these days.
What role do awards and artist residency programs play in an artist’s career?
Awards help the artist to gain visibility, and if a prize money is involved support the production of new work. Residency programs help the artist to widen his cultural and intellectual horizon. At the same time they help the artist to enlarge his network. Both are important tools for the development of a successful career.
5) How can you identify young or unrecognized artists who have the potential
to be successful in the future or who are likely to maintain a sound artistic
practice?
You have to look at all the works they did so far in order to learn about their conceptual and formal interests. Talking with them about their work also helps to get to know them and their notion of art. Do your homework and study the artist and his career. A balance between conceptual deepness and formal strength, combined with an intelligent use of his preferred artistic medium is what I am looking for. Also, I believe that a reliable personality and professional attitude is of importance for a long-term- relationship between artist and collector. In the end, I follow my instincts, trust my eye, do my research and rely on my knowledge as well as on my experience.
What would your suggestions be for art lovers who would like to collect works by emerging artists?
Collect what you like and understand as well as what you can live with. Then the work will be a great investment that enriches the quality of your life. The rest is extra. There are three motivations for starting a collection: Passion, Investment and Prestige. Only passion will lead your collection to personal success. In the end, who knows, maybe your passion will be shared by other collectors and all of the sudden your collection becomes a widely recognized and appreciated one. Though, this should be of secondary importance for every collector. In the end, you will widen your horizon, refine your visual and aesthetic taste, deepen your intellectuality, and most probably have a good financial investment that will earn you some extra social credits.
Why should we support emerging artists?
We should support them, because they are the next generation of artists. If they are not supported, their production is in danger. After a while, the whole art scene could collapse. That is why collectors have a serious cultural as well as socio-political function within the whole art scene and its artists.
How do you see/envision the future of emerging artists in the context of Turkey’s art world?
With the current economical, cultural-political as well as socio-political situation regarding the art market, funding and sponsoring, as well as personal matters of freedom and individuality art is in danger although it is more than ever needed for critically reviewing society and proposing alternative insights in our reality constructions. Besides these contextual matters, because of art-intrinsic issues it is very difficult for young artists to create their pieces these days. Of course, on the one hand, especially in Istanbul, due to its developing art scene, its art market and the steadily increasing numbers of publications, art faculties, galleries, exhibition spaces, and the general hype around contemporary art, it is supposed to be easier.
Though, besides the strangeness of the Post-Gezi-Climate that caused a socio-political limbo also for artists, due to the high number of art production it gets increasingly difficult especially for young artists to be recognized and to get a place within our scene. Though, next to contextual reasons, also conceptual difficulties make it hard to be an artist today. Due to the uncountable formal, aesthetical and content-related possibilities of creating art, it is easy to get lost in the labyrinth of approaches, ideas, notions and techniques. Post-Postmodernism’s absolute freedom and total eclecticism have made artistic life more complicated and diffused.
I believe that ART 50 can be an alternative platform for emerging artists helping them to gain access to our scene by giving them a chance to present their works with a wide audience. In this context the internet is a great forum, as it goes beyond the concrete limits of a gallery. That is why I support this project, as I believe that visibility, accessibility and sharing are important terms in the development of an artist’s career.