The Mona Lisa Curse

Robert Hughes, in his documentary "The Mona Lisa Curse," discusses the downward spiral of the art world. In his opinion, artists are becoming celebrities, and museums are becoming department stores. "Auction houses are the new arbitrators of taste." Hughes uses the arrival of Mona Lisa in New York City, under the presidency of JFK, as evidence of the profound change in art's meaning. When the Mona Lisa arrived in the city, people lined up to catch a glimpse of this famous piece. However, most people did not endure countless hours of waiting to experience an art piece with dense meaning. Instead, many simply wanted to view the piece for its popularity. They flocked to see a painting that is worth an incomprehensible amount of money in the art world. Thus, as Hughes repeatedly states throughout his documentary, Leonardo Da Vinci's cherished painting became a commodity, its value based on its monetary worth, rather than the deep meanings within the painting itself. The Mona Lisa Curse has proliferated throughout the art world, causing artists such as Damien Hearst and Jeff Koons to become global brands. An interesting point brought up in the documentary was the fact that the art world and the drug world are the only two markets within this country that are not regulated. Thus, auction houses have unlimited power. As the price of an art piece increases, auctioneers hold said piece in higher value. Therefore, higher-priced art pieces are often viewed as "good" art pieces, though this is not necessarily the case. "The Walking Man," a piece by renowned sculptor Alberto Giacometti, may best exemplify the increased importance of money in the art world. The sculpture fetched $104 million in a recent auction, being the highest bidding price for any piece in history. When looking at this piece, I do not understand how such a sculpture can be worth so much money. The bronze sculpture, rich in existentialist themes, certainly has deeper levels of meaning that make it a great piece of art. However, supply and demand, rather than the piece’s characteristics and meaning, seems to be the central reason for its high price tag. Works by Giacometti rarely appear in auctions, and many buyers had been waiting decades to buy the artist's work. The sculpture was truly a once-in-a-life opportunity for interested buyers, and the simple law of supply and demand created the highest bidding price in history.  

-Tina