Skype discussion part 3/3:
Helen: That’s also why africa and afganistan is so messed up as the west want to impose their democracy, but it’s tribal
Benjamin: true, but it must also relate to the lack of a big wealthy middle class
Benjamin: scandinavia, which is mainly middle class has had monarchys since the viking era but, England too
Helen: Yes, we had a series of reforms in our country so the constitution is not seperate like america, how does it work in scandinavia?
Benjamin: im not really sure, class divisions ended after the war when schools, health care etc became free
Benjamin: also urbanisation helped as population was so low that cities werent really divided into wealthy and poor areas
Benjamin: they were of course but not as properly as in big countrys
Helen: I reckon small countries are anomalies, the international pressures on the UK and China are different, as well as the domestic heirachy.
Helen: successful artists in China live like footballers in the UK
Helen: You sell one painting for £2,000 and that’s a yearly income.
Benjamin: really? is the yearly income that low?
Benjamin: yes, your right about the sizescandinavia and swizerland + belgium and those guys always seem to get pretty good deals in politics
Helen: I’ve been living nicely on £8 a day for food and everything else. A nice flat is about £80 a month
Helen: switzerland is rolling in it. centre of european politics too
….
Benjamin: i was thinking
Benjamin: if they like blig over there
Benjamin: bling
Helen: Can I put this on the blog?
Benjamin: posters sprinkled with diamond dust
Benjamin: space?
Helen: V. Hirst
Benjamin: yes on my behalf
Benjamin: yup
Benjamin: also vic muniz
Benjamin: and tons of other bigshots
Helen:: wicki
Benjamin: wicky baby
Benjamin: theres tons of them
Benjamin: just google diamon dust print
Helen: what did you fins?
Helen: you seen the cobain one?
Benjamin: by muniz?
Benjamin: space with diamond dust…..
Helen: no, some lamo http://davidblakeart.com/archives/227
Benjamin: industrial diamons are dirt cheap
Helen: get on it.
Benjamin: diamond dust is apperently glass
Helen: on muniz?
Benjamin: cant be
Helen: arggghhhhh soooo tacky!!! http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426130535/black-mari…
Benjamin: could you ask just for fun if diamond dust would be able to get ahold of there
Benjamin: i can imagine those kinds of prints would do quite well if they like shiny expensive things
Helen: It’s all about status.
Helen: and the market
Helen: So before anyone buys your work they will look at the market for it. This will be a problem to sell properly until your work has established itself, but tacky prints for people’s homes less so.
Helen: I think decorative is a good route
Helen: for the prints
Benjamin: i agree
Benjamin: hip decorative
Helen: yep
