Ryan McGinness on Self-Promotion and the Future of the Gallery System | Big Think

TL;DR

The artist discusses their act of reproducing their own artwork and their aversion to self-promotion and social media.

Transcript

so I took the um again it was almost a um situationist kind of like a act or act or act of subversion where I went into um the MoMA bookstore and also the Whitney bookstore um and I've always been interested in reproductions and reproductions of reproductions and so because that's that's how most of us experience artworks our art experience is thro... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎨 The artist views reproductions as a way to share their work through the medium experienced by most art consumers.
• 🤳 They have an aversion to self-promotion and reject social media, preferring to rely on galleries and institutions for promotion.
• 👻 Working with galleries allows the artist to focus solely on their artwork, without the need to entertain clients or be involved in sales.
• 🧑‍🎨 The artist's motivation is driven by their passion for creating rather than financial incentives.
• 🍵 They appreciate the management provided by galleries and institutions in handling sales and collectors.
• 🧑‍🎨 The artist's act of reproducing their own artwork aims to challenge and subvert traditional art contexts.
• 💌 Their decision to stop using an email list and reject social media is rooted in a desire to avoid feeling corny or obligating others.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the artist reproduce their artwork and place them in bookstores?

The artist reproduced their artwork as postcards to share their work through reproduction and to subtly subvert the context of other artworks in the bookstores.

Q: Why did the artist stop using an email list and reject social media?

The artist found self-promotion through email announcements and social media to be corny and wanted to avoid obligating others to attend their shows or events.

Q: How does the artist prefer to promote their work?

The artist relies on galleries and institutions to handle advertising and promotion, appreciating the management they provide.

Q: Why does the artist only want to focus on their work and not be involved in sales?

The artist values their time and concentration on their art, preferring to work with galleries who earn their percentage and manage sales for them.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The artist reproduced postcards of their own artwork and placed them in the MoMA and Whitney bookstores as a form of subversion and to share their work through reproduction.

• They stopped using an email list and rejected social media to avoid self-promotion and feeling obligated to attend events.

• The artist prefers working with galleries and institutions for advertising and promotion and values the management they provide.