Art Seconds (2021)
All text contributions written by Orissa Keane
Art Seconds was an exhibition by Min-Young Her and Orissa Keane at The Den (May 8-19). Applying the idea of ‘factory seconds’ to artworks, the exhibition showed and sold the duds, olds and embarrassing works of practitioners from a variety of creative backgrounds and in varying stages of their careers. Artworks were presented anonymously and within a fresh context, inviting visitors to rethink value ‘standards’ and gallery etiquette.
Sales Report
Of sorts.
Art Seconds involved over 50 contributors, over 200 visitors and over 150 participants (buyers). 5% of submissions came from the North Island while the rest were local to Ōtautahi. A range of mediums were available including digital sound and moving image. Contributors were given the choice to opt out of the closing event during which the works that hadn’t sold would be offered for free (fig. 1). Approximately 33% of contributions were ‘opted out’. Of those items, 58% sold during the exhibition. For the closing event only about 20% of the starting amount of artworks remained. For many contributors, making money was a byproduct of getting rid of artworks they didn’t want. Prices were not regulated (except for the price cap of $150) and were therefore quite random. This was not a problem, however, as visitors simply bought what they liked – some even paid more for items they thought were worth it (fig. 2). In general, contributors were surprised and grateful that their works sold at all – further, many donated their sales to either Min and Orissa or to The Den (fig. 3).
Summary
One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, so it goes.
Fig. 1 caption:
Graph to measure contributors’ assigned value against audience’s assigned value.
NB: While the above graph represents a true scenario, its data are entirely arbitrary and only meant to approximate a visual representation of actual events.
Fig. 2 caption:
This chart shows the possible comparative relationships between the audience’s and contributors’ respective ideas of value using the mathematical signs for equality and inequality based on whether or not the items were opted in or out of the ‘free’ closing event and whether or not they were sold or taken.
Fig. 3 caption:
Online submission form for Art Seconds. Graph generated by Google Forms.
Nb: Does not include submissions made without using the online form.
Sales Report
Of sorts.
Art Seconds involved over 50 contributors, over 200 visitors and over 150 participants (buyers). 5% of submissions came from the North Island while the rest were local to Ōtautahi. A range of mediums were available including digital sound and moving image. Contributors were given the choice to opt out of the closing event during which the works that hadn’t sold would be offered for free (fig. 1). Approximately 33% of contributions were ‘opted out’. Of those items, 58% sold during the exhibition. For the closing event only about 20% of the starting amount of artworks remained. For many contributors, making money was a byproduct of getting rid of artworks they didn’t want. Prices were not regulated (except for the price cap of $150) and were therefore quite random. This was not a problem, however, as visitors simply bought what they liked – some even paid more for items they thought were worth it (fig. 2). In general, contributors were surprised and grateful that their works sold at all – further, many donated their sales to either Min and Orissa or to The Den (fig. 3).
Summary
One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, so it goes.
Fig. 1 caption:
Graph to measure contributors’ assigned value against audience’s assigned value.
NB: While the above graph represents a true scenario, its data are entirely arbitrary and only meant to approximate a visual representation of actual events.
Fig. 2 caption:
This chart shows the possible comparative relationships between the audience’s and contributors’ respective ideas of value using the mathematical signs for equality and inequality based on whether or not the items were opted in or out of the ‘free’ closing event and whether or not they were sold or taken.
Fig. 3 caption:
Online submission form for Art Seconds. Graph generated by Google Forms.
Nb: Does not include submissions made without using the online form.
Process and installation images (the actual opening night was so hectic that we both forgot to take any photos).