Blurred Lines: Inside the Artworld

Directed by Barry Avrich, the 2017 documentary “Blurred Lines: Inside the Artworld” examines the forces that shape the contemporary art world. The documentary, which focuses on the important actors of the art market, especially artists, art dealers, collectors, museums, auction houses, and art fairs, reveals various problems regarding the functioning of the system. Avrich compares art fairs to shopping malls or playgrounds, points out the existence of manipulative collectors, and highlights various inequalities in the contemporary art scene. The documentary opens at Sotheby’s the day after the economic crisis that started with the collapse of the Lehman Brothers in 2008, with a scene where Damien Hirst’s “Beautiful in My Head Forever” sold for $ 200 million. In this context, Avrich also draws attention to the disconnection of the contemporary art market from the realities of society. Barry Avrich also features meetings with names such as Marina Abramovich, Rashid Johnson, and Julian Schnabel. You can watch the documentary “Blurred Lines: Inside the Artworld” on Amazon and iTunes.