Schlock Happens
I just received an email this morning from a new London group called the “Helium Foundation,” offering to take the pain out of buying art. Among the things they had to offer was a suite of Miro lithographs with a printed signature, at 1,750 GBP a pop. The sad thing is that people see the name Miro, and they completely ignore the fact that the artist never even touched this piece. They see a recognizeable “museum-quality” name—and a potential bargain. Won’t the neighbors be impressed?
Here’s a direct quote from the email:
“helium is an unique art consultancy, building art collections for some of the world’s most high profile individuals and managing creative projects for the world’s biggest brands.
helium have an intelligent approach in buying and commissioning art from around the globe. We have an infectious enthusiasm for art and will help to nurture that in you.”
Time to wake up and smell the turpentine! If the bad grammar/translation doesn’t tip you off, the shameless marketing of big-name schlock should. I wonder: is Miro one of “the world’s biggest brands” they are alluding to? Printed signatures, indeed!
While we’re on the topic of art you should probably avoid, just a quick call-out to a piece in yesterday’s New York Post about the perils of buying art onboard cruise ships, in which I had a few choice words. There was also a sidebar in which I gave tips on how to avoid making costly mistakes–alas, not online. —M.S.
