Mere Mortals Conversations Secrets Of The Art World | Power, Provenance & Pretentiousness
Dec 7, 2025
56:36
There is a reason why the art 'space' is divisive and why money distorts many things.
In Episode #504 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the book by Magnus Resch titled '100 Secrets of the Art World', tight‑knit gatekeeping at the high end of the market, how control of information shape what gets seen and sold (often more than artistic merit), parallels to other status markets such as watches/supercars, why 'better' often defaults to 'more expensive', where marketing can overshadow craft yet many collectors still buy for love and to support artists and why the truest encounters with art might still be found in small local galleries rather than at Art Basel.
No support for this week, very sad puppy :(
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals
Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:52) Defining the 'art space'
(00:03:38) First impressions: elitism, provenance and pretence
(00:09:04) Gatekeeping: cabals, galleries and New York
(00:12:06) Parallels with cars/watches: scarcity and status
(00:15:27) Art Basel anecdote: committees, control and quiet coups
(00:20:02) NFTs, provenance on-chain and collectibles vs art
(00:22:22) Popularity: storytelling, marketing and money
(00:27:38) Quality heuristics: effort, complexity and the 22blue painting22 problem
(00:32:38) Boostagram Lounge
(00:34:00) Misconceptions across niches: calisthenics, hand balancing, circus
(00:39:03) On labels and assumptions: steroids, fitness and nuance
(00:44:04) Finding the essence: local galleries, pure enjoyment
(00:48:06) Would creation persist without cash?
(00:53:56) Purity at the base, distortion at the peak
(00:55:27) Housekeeping and support links; live chat banter
In Episode #504 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the book by Magnus Resch titled '100 Secrets of the Art World', tight‑knit gatekeeping at the high end of the market, how control of information shape what gets seen and sold (often more than artistic merit), parallels to other status markets such as watches/supercars, why 'better' often defaults to 'more expensive', where marketing can overshadow craft yet many collectors still buy for love and to support artists and why the truest encounters with art might still be found in small local galleries rather than at Art Basel.
No support for this week, very sad puppy :(
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals
Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:52) Defining the 'art space'
(00:03:38) First impressions: elitism, provenance and pretence
(00:09:04) Gatekeeping: cabals, galleries and New York
(00:12:06) Parallels with cars/watches: scarcity and status
(00:15:27) Art Basel anecdote: committees, control and quiet coups
(00:20:02) NFTs, provenance on-chain and collectibles vs art
(00:22:22) Popularity: storytelling, marketing and money
(00:27:38) Quality heuristics: effort, complexity and the 22blue painting22 problem
(00:32:38) Boostagram Lounge
(00:34:00) Misconceptions across niches: calisthenics, hand balancing, circus
(00:39:03) On labels and assumptions: steroids, fitness and nuance
(00:44:04) Finding the essence: local galleries, pure enjoyment
(00:48:06) Would creation persist without cash?
(00:53:56) Purity at the base, distortion at the peak
(00:55:27) Housekeeping and support links; live chat banter
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