Photographs from last night’s ‘Photography Sell-Out’ at the Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland, at which an estimated crowd of around 400 lined up to purchase photographs by notable practitioners for $15 a print. The idea for this event, organised by Craig Hilton, was for 15 photographers each to provide a 15 prints for sale at bargain basement prices. In the end 17 invited photographers participated: Mark Adams, Edith Amituanai, Fiona Amundsen, Harvey Benge, Conor Clarke, John Collie, Jennifer French, Darren Glass, Sam Hartnett, Rebecca Hobbs, Jae Hoon Lee, Ian Macdonald, Fiona Pardington, Haruhiko Sameshima, Ann Shelton, Shigeru Takato, and Ans Westra. Some provided sets of the same image, while others, like Ans Westra, proffered 15 different images (proof sheets in her case). Harnett provided both a print and CD of work, while Shelton provided a dyptych (for $30).
A long queue formed down Shortland Street from the entrance to the gallery which opened at 6pm sharp to let in the expectant but patient crowd. The work was fully sold out in just over an hour, grossing just over $4,500, at what must be one of the most unusual events at this year’s Auckland Festival of Photography.
John B. Turner: ‘Photography Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photography Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photography Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photography Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photograph Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photograph Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: ‘Photograph Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
John B. Turner: Craig Hilton (left) and Sam Hartnett, count the takings from the ‘Photograph Sell-Out’, Gus Fisher Gallery, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 9 June 2009
June 10th, 2009 at 11:18 am
The event was certainly a huge success, generating a lot of excitement. I do however feel there could have been better people management. The queue was plagued by people trying to push in and after about the first 50 or so people just disintegrated. This could have easily been prevented by having a better series of barriers and perhaps a ticket system for the first 100 people.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
So, on a market definition the Sell Out was a success. But I was under the impression that there was a more interesting idea at work, that of a discourse re the photographer/gallery/market setup (my paraphrasing from the 6 point A5 note that was displayed in the central cabinet). On that level, personally I don’t think there was as much success.
This could be partly leveled at the photographers who generally appeared just to have figured out how to create work to the $15 value. (But then the photographers may not have been given any other brief to allow them to engage in the bigger concept).
And since the work was removed as it was sold, any further discourse was attenutated, and only perhaps could happen in full if you were in the part of the queue who could see all the works and decide what to buy (or not) - since latecomers only had access to the central cabinet, that displayed a subset of all the work (I think), in a garage sale style.
Or am I just upset because my 9 year old couldn’t buy the Anne Noble (that was actually in the Antarctic show in the same room) for $15, as he’d first expected?
June 10th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I see what Stu.s is saying Perhaps the gallery setting was wrong? Perhaps the prints should have just been bought based on the artwork itself like the MUKA youth show.
http://www.muka.co.nz/gallery/artforyoungpeople.asp
It would of course have still been easy to pick out work of many photographer because of their individual style but the point would be better made.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
On reflection, there was a discourse set up by the cake stall style presentation of Sell Out being held within the much ‘higher art’ show of work from artists who went to the Antarctic. Huge (presumably expensive) columns of ice towering over both the Sell Out and the buyers. I’m not sure if that was deliberate or serendipitous but you couldn’t help but notice one while you fought to queue for the other.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I think it would be interesting if everyone did what Harvey did, an envelope with the photograph unseen inside, trading just on the name in effect. It would be a total different point they would be making but a very effective and clever critique of the art investment market.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Harvey told me that in fact there was nothing inside the envelope. Probably not true (did anyone buy his? Did they get a picture?). Now that would really be playing with the commerce idea
June 12th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
The image was actually available to see on one of Harveys web sites for a short while but I believe has been taken down. Also judging by the look of the bag it, at the very least, had a stiff piece of photo-paper like card inside.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:53 am
interesting conversation….is there such a thing as laissez-faire serendipity ?
June 15th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Was that a rhetorical question?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:36 am
no, but I liked the sound of the phrase which came to mind listening to you and Stu post photo sell out.
The huge columns of ice were, for me, but one of the serendipitous components of the night.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:49 am
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June 18th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Craig
I like the phrase too, but I’m interested to know if you were hoping for (or expected) a more challenging approach to the gallery/commerce question, or am I just flogging my own expectations here?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Hi Stu,
from the artists?
I thought they all approached the $15 problem in varied and interesting ways. There were of course many more ideas (some of which I became aware of) that did not manifest. For instance, I suspect Harvey was still playing with this idea when he tried to start a rumour that there was no image in his envelope.
As far as my expectations go - it was an experiment and I thought the results were very interesting.
June 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Hi Craig
not wanting to labour it too much, but ‘results were very interesting’ leaves me wanting more - Did it address the things you wanted; ?would you do anything differently for a second one?