„Art belongs to everybody“ might be the most important sentence in Alex Mora's manifesto to go with his hunger strike.Art is always combined with recognition. Because how could one depict something, one did not recognize? There will always be people from any social background, who will be able to feel what an artist is showing in his work, without being taught so. In this respect art is there for everyone and no-one should be denied access to a work of art.
One can buy a work of art, but one cannot see, feel, experience, what lead the artist to this special form and in which connection it might stand to the every day world surrounding us. All of this is not available for money. Further more the assembling of expensive art works to show of riches makes one small and shat on To have more trust in banknotes than in. one's own individuality as an artist will not create art.
And why should one be able to experience art through this? Though I do not believe that Alex Mora will stop the excesses of a class of upstarts, who reserve works of art for themselves, equals and a couple of moths with his actions, I believe that he will at least show that artists as well are having a problem with art (seemingly?) being ruled by money.
Paul Isenrath.
Heinz Bossart
Art Galerie Cologne
dear alex,
i appreciate your project very much. i assume, with your performance you are giving a voice to the feelings not only of unnumerous artists but of many others, too - especially those being also part of the international art scene. by the way i'm part of it leading a private gallery in the heart of europe. well, mark rothko is dead and he would need a lot of after life supporters to help making his canvasses in the future still available for the public. but we are still living on this planet and in this commercialized world where i still have the (old-fashionned?) idea that with a good portion of solidarity you can reach a lot. what i from my position in the gallery try to realize in my daily work is to try to gain artists developing a common interest not only in giving arts a good perspective but even in trying to handle commercial affairs in a way agreeable to all participants.
i know this did not function in many ways during the past and there are enough bad examples. often enough artists and gallery owners stood on different sides of the game. but i'm convinced starting with even one good example and talking about it would be an important first step and encourage others. solidarity as to this topic between you the artist and me the gallery man as to our acting and communicating at the agora including -sure- the markets opposite customers and collectors, auction houses, art hunters etc. would be what we could do without any further investments in an easy way.
and as a sign for the world it could have fast results liberating art in your sense spreading internationally.good luck and best wishes for your performance!heinz bossert, cologne/germany