Good art vs. bad art. Original work vs. Fake. Spending millions of dollars on art from artists who suffered poverty and tragedy in their lifetime with no proceeds going to the original family. The art world inspires many questions about ethics and determining what’s right or wrong. These questions affect the artists, the collectors, art institutions, and even the general public.
It’s not a surprise that art and ethics have no definitive answer. However, it’s worth examining some ethical issues that continue to arise in the art world. Some hope to reach a consensus on what’s ethically acceptable, while others may insist that the art of debating ethics drives much-needed criticisms of this highly unregulated industry.
Common Questions of Ethics in the Art World
It’s safe to say that art has no official code of ethics. These topics are frequently debated about what’s considered ethical and what is not.
Good vs. Bad art
Art is subjective. One viewer’s interpretation can be vastly different from another perspective. So, then, what constitutes good art and bad art? How does the Piet Mondrian Composition No. III, made with simple color blocks, fetch over $50 million at auction, or the Jackson Pollock Number 17A abstract “drip” lines command a price of $200 million. Yet, countless masterpieces from trained artists go unsold and never see the light of day.
Many artists submit their works for consideration in exhibitions or art competitions judged by experts who quantify art based on selected criteria. However, one may argue that when examining the works by Mondrian and Pollock, they would hardly make the cut.
The question of ethics then lies in who has the final say in whether a work is good or bad. It could be a matter of who is viewing it, and opinions can change over time.
Selling Art
Examining the life of Van Gogh reveals one of the most tragic stories for an artist in a timeline that included sickness, mental health, and poverty. However, looking at his artwork (created during these dark times), we see works like Starry Night valued at over $100 million and even a self-portrait like his Portrait De L’artiste Sans Barbe sold for $65 million.
Is it ethical for participants in the secondary art market to achieve such astronomical wealth exchanges while the original artist (and often their families) are left as mere spectators to the value of their own art with no benefits?.
Graffiti vs. Street Art
On paper, there’s a big difference between Street art (commissioned works) and graffiti (illegal art). One form is seen as vandalism, while the other is applauded for beautifying public spaces. But on the surface, they appear as the same thing.
Is it ethical for one artist to risk fines and penalties for creating art in a public space while another gets paid for doing the same thing?
Changing Performance Art
Performance art is dynamic and can change with each show. Think about an orchestra playing a piece or a ballet dancer performing. Slight differences in how a piece is performed effectively alter the art.
We’ve all seen images of Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian or the banana duct taped to the wall. This piece was sold for $120,000 and gives rights to the owner to duct tape any banana to the wall and call it the original (since bananas can go bad). But recreating this work inherently changes it. Or perhaps playing a music composition and a musician opting to change parts of it.
These works are always subject to change, but can you call it original once you deviate from its origin?
Art Subject and Censorship
Our society is becoming much more sensitive to art that’s politically and sexually charged. Many artists set out to create works that challenge our way of thinking and bring attention to the different events happening around the world, racial topics, and other subjects many consider should be censored by the general public. However, censorship erases the main goal of creating these types of works.
The question of ethics lies in whether art should be censored, and if so, who determines what should be censored?
Plagiarism vs. Inspiration
A famous quote by Pablo Picasso says, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” But aren’t they both unethical? Copying art is a form of plagiarism, and stealing works to call your own is also unethical, especially when done on purpose.
From an artistic perspective, one may say it’s simply drawing inspiration from another piece. Consider painting in styles like cubism or impressionism or choosing a subject matter that many artists before you have used. Or even the latest AI art revolution that takes already-made images to generate new ones.
There is a fine line between plagiarism and inspiration, but where do we draw that line?
Bryan’s Thoughts: Ethics is the study of right vs. wrong and how it shapes behavior. Ethics in art is constantly changing, and new industry changes, like the introduction of AI, continue to push the debate of ethical art even further. Art falls within a gray area of ethics and can be best determined case-by-case. Rules and regulations can change, a viewer’s perspective can change, and even critics can alter their opinions, but the art in question remains the same.
Ponder these questions about art and ethics and share what you consider to be the benchmark of ethics in art.
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