In the past few weeks, there have been some rather heated verbal exchanges on Facebook between well-known local artists and an art gallery founded by Guadeloupeans living in Portugal. Topics around money, usually taboo, were discussed and the least we can say is that revelations were made, accounts were settled, dirty laundry was washed in public. Those who usually have an opinion on everything and are very active on social networks by putting a “Like”, a comment or by sharing the publications, were rather discreet or even absent because they did not want to offend anyone…they may need them in the future.
This episode allows us to focus on a profession that is currently in vogue : “exhibition organizer”. Indeed, over the last ten years, the number of artists in the visual arts (painters, plastic artists, sculptors) has greatly increased. There are more and more artists who have studied in art schools and self-taught artists who dare to show their works. As a result, there is always an exhibition to visit in the archipelago.
Therefore, some people have found the really good business to exploit, because if there are many artists who produce works, they should be helped to present themselves to the public and show their work.
In general, the majority of artists in Guadeloupe prefer to organize their own exhibitions and, to do so, they reserve a room in cultural centres, libraries, media libraries for example, managed by local authorities. Delays are often long but the space is free or they have to offer a work of art.
Of course, this represents an additional task for the artist, but if he has connections, if he is known and if the public likes his work, he is sure to sell one or more works to earn a living when he is a professional, i.e. when he has only art to live on.
On the other hand, if the artist does not have a well-packed address book, it will be difficult for him to sell a few works to recover his outlay, even if there are many visitors.
Things are easier for artists who have an additional activity, some of whom sometimes earn a comfortable salary…
Thus, while some of these “exhibition organizers” have knowledge of the artistic field and have serious plans for the artists with whom they work, others – cultural mercenaries – have arrived there because they were unemployed and looking for a job to do, because they are attracted by easy money, because they know elected politicians who are able to plead their cause for public financial support.
These “exhibition organizers” generally make applications for subsidies that they submit to the local authorities (Regional Council, Departmental Council) or to the Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DAC). Their main refrain : to increase the visibility of Guadeloupean artists internationally, a noble mission, but how do we know if they succeed? How many international fairs and biennials in the world have already requested the presence of our artists? Until now, it is Guadeloupeans who go to beg for a small place and, often when we are somewhere, we have paid the high price… thanks to public subsidies. However, when we organize an artistic event, we always look for a foreigner to offer him the chair of artist guest of honour, of curator, all of that at Her Majesty’s pleasure or always thanks to public subsidies instead of promoting a competent person from our country…
We remember this “exhibition organizer” – an unscrupulous individual – who had decided to promote local talent. All too happy to find this “messiah” who had promised them moon and the stars in order to sell their production, many artists had trusted him. Of course, this person had applied for a grant to organize a large exhibition that was to take place in Pointe-à-Pitre, not far from the Place de la Victoire. But, the scenographer never came, the artists had to manage to arrange the works and the highlight of this was the absence of this “exhibition organizer” at the opening ; it was said that he was in France for training…
This recidivist was on the move again three years ago, apparently with partners. This time, he organized an exhibition with auctions in a well-known cultural venue in the town of Goyave. Once again, a subsidy had been given by the authorities but some artists were asked to do painting and other work to prepare the space for the works of art. Other artists wondered where the flyers, invitation cards and other communication material to promote the event were, in the end all the information was published on a Facebook page…it was simpler and above all it did not cost a cent on the subsidy. Once again, this “exhibition organizer” was conspicuous by his absence and the exhibition closed early…
We realize that now, what motivates these “exhibition organizers”, or these “dream merchants” who know nothing about art, who have no address book with people likely to acquire works, is not the commission they could receive in case of sale, but the subsidies they collect. In fact, no matter if those cultural mercenaries sell a work, they always win when they do not take any financial risk, while the artist becomes the laughing stock.
