[-empyre-] saatchi

[Gerry Coulter]

My comment is out of place only if you see something wrong with being from Iraq. I do not. It is interesting how, in reading xenophobia into my posting, you reveal only your own xenophobia. So do tell, why would it be such a bad thing to be from Iraq in your view?

My question was an honest one -- would British art, which Saachi has played some significant role in shaping, be better off if he had stayed in Iraq -- that is, "not moved to Britain" (you may prefer it said as such?).

Of course he would have had to find ways to deal with the virulent anti-Semitism that drove him out of Iraq, negotiated his way through Saddam's efforts to dictate the country, and the American effort to pretty much ruin it. And poor Margaret -- what would she have done without the Saatchi's "Labour isn't working" slogan?

Gerry
________________________________
From: empyre-bounces at gamera.cofa.unsw.edu.au [empyre-bounces at gamera.cofa.unsw.edu.au] On Behalf Of Cynthia Beth Rubin [cbr at cbrubin.net]
Sent: January 25, 2010 11:58 AM
To: soft_skinned_space
Subject: [-empyre-] saatchi

Gerry

As an artist who has shied away from playing the big gallery money game, I am not in a position to defend or criticize Saatchi --  but I am concerned Gerry that your post includes the xenophobic question "would it be better . . if he had never left Iraq?"

Criticize him and his actions in terms of the discussion of art and ethics. But your comment on his origins is out of place.

The rest of the discussion is great -- keep it coming!

Cynthia Beth Rubin
http://CBRubin.net


On Jan 25, 2010, at 4:26 AM, Gerry Coulter wrote:


All collecting habits are destructive just as all interpretive activities surrounding art bring a kind of violence to bear on the work. Unlike most major players in the big moneyed art world I think Saatchi actually gives a shit about the art. Is art in the UK today not somewhat in his debt? Would it be in better shape if he had never left Iraq?


best


G

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://mail.cofa.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/empyre/attachments/20100125/3c9c2182/attachment-0001.html