Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lamprecht, Andrew | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Conradie, Annemi | |
| dc.contributor.author | le Clus-Theron, Jean | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-25T12:59:56Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-25T12:59:56Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2015 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-03-25T12:58:37Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | In this study I investigate two main premises: firstly that art intermediaries are imperative in value creation in an artist's career, and secondly that high prices are used as a way to justify, measure or reflect an artist's “importance”. The motives for these investigations are, firstly, that there would seem to be insufficient academic research on these notions in the South African art scene, and secondly, the existence of a counter argument, namely, that the high prices attained on the art market may be deemed arbitrary and irrational. This study investigates the South African contemporary fine art scene along with the role of South African art intermediaries and their perceptions on ideas of “importance” and “success”, using two case studies. These case studies comprise the career trajectories of two living artists residing in South Africa, who compared to all other living artists residing in South Africa, have attained the highest prices in their careers for work on auction, namely, William Kentridge and Dylan Lewis. In this study twenty-six intermediaries were interviewed and the ensuing data used to investigate how these and other intermediaries influence perceptions of the importance and success of these artists' work. This dissertation incorporates Pierre Bourdieu's theory of field, capital and distinction, and uses Alan Bowness's four conditions of success as a framework for investigation. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | le Clus-Theron, J. (2015). <i>Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Michaelis School of Fine Art. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | le Clus-Theron, Jean. <i>"Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Michaelis School of Fine Art, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | le Clus-Theron, J. 2015. Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Michaelis School of Fine Art. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - le Clus-Theron, Jean AB - In this study I investigate two main premises: firstly that art intermediaries are imperative in value creation in an artist's career, and secondly that high prices are used as a way to justify, measure or reflect an artist's “importance”. The motives for these investigations are, firstly, that there would seem to be insufficient academic research on these notions in the South African art scene, and secondly, the existence of a counter argument, namely, that the high prices attained on the art market may be deemed arbitrary and irrational. This study investigates the South African contemporary fine art scene along with the role of South African art intermediaries and their perceptions on ideas of “importance” and “success”, using two case studies. These case studies comprise the career trajectories of two living artists residing in South Africa, who compared to all other living artists residing in South Africa, have attained the highest prices in their careers for work on auction, namely, William Kentridge and Dylan Lewis. In this study twenty-six intermediaries were interviewed and the ensuing data used to investigate how these and other intermediaries influence perceptions of the importance and success of these artists' work. This dissertation incorporates Pierre Bourdieu's theory of field, capital and distinction, and uses Alan Bowness's four conditions of success as a framework for investigation. DA - 2015 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Fine Arts LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2015 T1 - Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success TI - Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | le Clus-Theron J. Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Michaelis School of Fine Art, 2015 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41243 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | Eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Michaelis School of Fine Art | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Humanities | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | Fine Arts | |
| dc.title | Culture, Commerce and Value: The Contemporary South African Fine Art Market in Relation to Concepts of Artistic and Financial Success | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MA |