Gothamist: Rockefeller's Rich Return on Rothko

edEx

Wed, 16 May 2007 18:31:18 -0500

How exactly does a 72 million dollar painting effect any of us economically? Oh that's right... it doesn't. Just because someone is very wealthy—it does not have the slightest impact on my wallet or yours. Bill Gates is one of the richest people on Earth and still his monetary value has no bearing on any of us, with the exception of a shitty operating system...

qwerty

Wed, 16 May 2007 16:13:06 -0500

Anyone else think Rothko's a bit overrated?

Charles

Wed, 16 May 2007 15:52:09 -0500

Im not always like this-I'm sick with allergies and there is nothing to do at work today. Dont worry, I'll be nasty later.

ben alt

Wed, 16 May 2007 15:20:50 -0500

Charles, you'll need to check with others, but I'm not sure that thoughtful, non-reactionary comments are allowed here.

Charles

Wed, 16 May 2007 14:40:10 -0500

Also, I think the art world boom really is emblematic of a bubble economy-it reminds of the Japanese economy in the eighties when the Japanese were buying up every old painting in sight and inflating prices. And then they collapsed. But all the reporting on this reminds me of that. It wont last.

Charles

Wed, 16 May 2007 14:37:26 -0500

I think a lot of the art being produced today really is about marketing and the media and short term shock value rather than anything meaningful. The art world of today really is about money. But not Rothko-he really is a master and was revolutionary for his time and has influenced a lot of people-and it's hard to reproduce. And the art world is cyclical-the bottom will eventually fall out, and all the nhedge fund managers will be looking to unload what they bought, which is good for us, because then we can just go to a museum and see it for relatively cheap. And maybe when the bottom falls out, the art world will become about art again.

otomboy

Wed, 16 May 2007 14:33:51 -0500

One of a kind objects are worth whatever people will pay for it. If I were a billionaire, I would love to own an original Rothko, when you're that rich, expensive things are relative.

dhex

Wed, 16 May 2007 14:02:22 -0500

"Believe me you, this affects us all!" how? i'm quite curious.

JGNY

Wed, 16 May 2007 13:38:53 -0500

Yes, You could do this with 50 dollars and a trip to Pearl. However, would you?

Reality Czech

Wed, 16 May 2007 13:02:05 -0500

no painting is worth 72 million, no sports figure is worth 20 million, no CEO is worth 200 million, this shit is crazy. No wonder the average American can't keep up with inflation! Believe me you, this affects us all!

nick

Wed, 16 May 2007 12:34:15 -0500

that comment is so immensely stupid i seriously have no response to it.

Toby

Wed, 16 May 2007 12:13:56 -0500

I love how these paintings that can be replicated for $50 after a trip to the art supply store or hardware store sell for absurd amounts of money. It just proves that a lot of this modern "art" is more packaging and marketing than anything else, like say, art.

ben alt

Wed, 16 May 2007 11:39:10 -0500

Watch for more records to be broken tonight - Christie's auction is this evening.