Thomas Edison Marie Curie the Wright brothers Albert Einstein names we’re
brothers Albert Einstein names we’re
brothers Albert Einstein names we’re familiar with because of inventions and
familiar with because of inventions and
familiar with because of inventions and discoveries that have changed the world
discoveries that have changed the world
discoveries that have changed the world and the trajectory of our future the
and the trajectory of our future the
and the trajectory of our future the history books are full of individuals
history books are full of individuals
history books are full of individuals whose timely genius created a ripple
whose timely genius created a ripple
whose timely genius created a ripple effect of change to the world around
effect of change to the world around
effect of change to the world around them each discovery paving the way for
them each discovery paving the way for
them each discovery paving the way for even more advances in science and
even more advances in science and
even more advances in science and technology so let’s imagine for a moment
technology so let’s imagine for a moment
technology so let’s imagine for a moment what would the world be like if people
what would the world be like if people
what would the world be like if people like the Wright brothers or Albert
like the Wright brothers or Albert
like the Wright brothers or Albert Einstein we’re never born well truth be
Einstein we’re never born well truth be
Einstein we’re never born well truth be told we’d still be flying around the
told we’d still be flying around the
told we’d still be flying around the planet and deeper into space somebody
planet and deeper into space somebody
planet and deeper into space somebody eventually somewhere would have
eventually somewhere would have
eventually somewhere would have discovered that e equals MC squared now
discovered that e equals MC squared now
discovered that e equals MC squared now while the pace and timelines of these
while the pace and timelines of these
while the pace and timelines of these discoveries would be different
discoveries would be different
discoveries would be different eventually with time we are destined to
eventually with time we are destined to
eventually with time we are destined to continue furthering our understanding of
continue furthering our understanding of
continue furthering our understanding of both science and technology so let’s
both science and technology so let’s
both science and technology so let’s look at a few other individuals who
look at a few other individuals who
look at a few other individuals who influenced our lives what would the
influenced our lives what would the
influenced our lives what would the world be like if Picasso was never born
world be like if Picasso was never born
world be like if Picasso was never born or Frida Kahlo then go Rembrandt what
or Frida Kahlo then go Rembrandt what
or Frida Kahlo then go Rembrandt what about Warhol or Pollock Rockwell or
about Warhol or Pollock Rockwell or
about Warhol or Pollock Rockwell or Rothko if these artists were never born
Rothko if these artists were never born
Rothko if these artists were never born would the world ever know their art
would the world ever know their art
would the world ever know their art these people might not influence our
these people might not influence our
these people might not influence our understanding of science but they help
understanding of science but they help
understanding of science but they help us understand our own soul in life and
us understand our own soul in life and
us understand our own soul in life and in death through their art and the
in death through their art and the
in death through their art and the creations they leave behind they give
creations they leave behind they give
creations they leave behind they give people purpose the inspiration of an
people purpose the inspiration of an
people purpose the inspiration of an artist manifested into a creation that
artist manifested into a creation that
artist manifested into a creation that has experienced and then shared by one
has experienced and then shared by one
has experienced and then shared by one person and then the next and the
person and then the next and the
person and then the next and the and the next that experience of being
and the next that experience of being
and the next that experience of being inspired of not just seeing or hearing a
inspired of not just seeing or hearing a
inspired of not just seeing or hearing a work of art but feeling it while it’s
work of art but feeling it while it’s
work of art but feeling it while it’s different from person to person it’s not
different from person to person it’s not
different from person to person it’s not a stretch to say that most people find
a stretch to say that most people find
a stretch to say that most people find some sort of comfort through their
some sort of comfort through their
some sort of comfort through their exposure to art and to me that
exposure to art and to me that
exposure to art and to me that illustrates why the arts are equally as
illustrates why the arts are equally as
illustrates why the arts are equally as important as science and my artists are
important as science and my artists are
important as science and my artists are equally as important as scientists and
equally as important as scientists and
equally as important as scientists and inventors I grew up in an art gallery my
inventors I grew up in an art gallery my
inventors I grew up in an art gallery my father started his first gallery back in
father started his first gallery back in
father started his first gallery back in the 1970s and I was fortunate grew up
the 1970s and I was fortunate grew up
the 1970s and I was fortunate grew up not just surrounded by a lot of art but
not just surrounded by a lot of art but
not just surrounded by a lot of art but also getting to know a lot of great
also getting to know a lot of great
also getting to know a lot of great artists personally I got to see how
artists personally I got to see how
artists personally I got to see how artists lived what motivated them to
artists lived what motivated them to
artists lived what motivated them to create and I got to see other people be
create and I got to see other people be
create and I got to see other people be introduced to and fall in love with
introduced to and fall in love with
introduced to and fall in love with their work I got to see the motivation
their work I got to see the motivation
their work I got to see the motivation and the inspiration that art creates I’m
and the inspiration that art creates I’m
and the inspiration that art creates I’m also a huge nerd I love computers and
also a huge nerd I love computers and
also a huge nerd I love computers and technology I love to write code and use
technology I love to write code and use
technology I love to write code and use it to build things into me there’s an
it to build things into me there’s an
it to build things into me there’s an artistry in that process and something
artistry in that process and something
artistry in that process and something I’ve learned in my professional capacity
I’ve learned in my professional capacity
I’ve learned in my professional capacity as a coder working inside and outside
as a coder working inside and outside
as a coder working inside and outside the art world and that’s the art world
the art world and that’s the art world
the art world and that’s the art world operates counterproductive to the rights
operates counterproductive to the rights
operates counterproductive to the rights and interests of the artists it
and interests of the artists it
and interests of the artists it celebrates in other words that
celebrates in other words that
celebrates in other words that individual artists that one-of-a-kind
individual artists that one-of-a-kind
individual artists that one-of-a-kind human being whose life stories and
human being whose life stories and
human being whose life stories and creations of which the art world
creations of which the art world
creations of which the art world revolves has very little influence on
revolves has very little influence on
revolves has very little influence on what happens to their artwork once it
what happens to their artwork once it
what happens to their artwork once it leaves their hands you see the art world
leaves their hands you see the art world
leaves their hands you see the art world can be broken down into four main
can be broken down into four main
can be broken down into four main stakeholders we have the artists our
stakeholders we have the artists our
stakeholders we have the artists our creators we have the market which is
creators we have the market which is
creators we have the market which is made up of art dealers art galleries
made up of art dealers art galleries
made up of art dealers art galleries auction houses and a whole array of
auction houses and a whole array of
auction houses and a whole array of service providers we have our
service providers we have our
service providers we have our institutions our public art galleries
institutions our public art galleries
institutions our public art galleries our museums our academic and nonprofit
our museums our academic and nonprofit
our museums our academic and nonprofit organizations and we have the public
organizations and we have the public
organizations and we have the public participants of the art world the people
participants of the art world the people
participants of the art world the people who take ownership and responsibility
who take ownership and responsibility
who take ownership and responsibility for individual works of art now each one
for individual works of art now each one
for individual works of art now each one of these stakeholders is completely
of these stakeholders is completely
of these stakeholders is completely codependent on each other you remove any
codependent on each other you remove any
codependent on each other you remove any one of them from the equation and the
one of them from the equation and the
one of them from the equation and the art world just doesn’t even exist in
art world just doesn’t even exist in
art world just doesn’t even exist in 2016 the global art market was Valley
2016 the global art market was Valley
2016 the global art market was Valley 45 billion dollars now a lot of people
45 billion dollars now a lot of people
45 billion dollars now a lot of people inside and outside the art world look at
inside and outside the art world look at
inside and outside the art world look at this number and they suggest that the
this number and they suggest that the
this number and they suggest that the problem here is an uneven distribution
problem here is an uneven distribution
problem here is an uneven distribution of that economy the story of a starving
of that economy the story of a starving
of that economy the story of a starving artist living in poverty while their
artist living in poverty while their
artist living in poverty while their works of art go on to be worth millions
works of art go on to be worth millions
works of art go on to be worth millions now in my opinion if this is the only
now in my opinion if this is the only
now in my opinion if this is the only way that you’re looking at the art world
way that you’re looking at the art world
way that you’re looking at the art world you’re actually missing out on the real
you’re actually missing out on the real
you’re actually missing out on the real starvation and that’s because there’s
starvation and that’s because there’s
starvation and that’s because there’s something besides money that all of
something besides money that all of
something besides money that all of these stakeholders have a very strong
these stakeholders have a very strong
these stakeholders have a very strong vested interest in and it’s something
vested interest in and it’s something
vested interest in and it’s something called provenance provenance could be
called provenance provenance could be
called provenance provenance could be defined as the chronology of the
defined as the chronology of the
defined as the chronology of the ownership custody or location of a
ownership custody or location of a
ownership custody or location of a historical object it’s essentially the
historical object it’s essentially the
historical object it’s essentially the story behind a work of art where it has
story behind a work of art where it has
story behind a work of art where it has come from and where it has been it’s the
come from and where it has been it’s the
come from and where it has been it’s the authoritative record on that work of
authoritative record on that work of
authoritative record on that work of arts history the point of creation is
arts history the point of creation is
arts history the point of creation is when the first pieces of provenance are
when the first pieces of provenance are
when the first pieces of provenance are developed titled date of creation size
developed titled date of creation size
developed titled date of creation size medium attribution copyright and then
medium attribution copyright and then
medium attribution copyright and then the market steps in and generates all
the market steps in and generates all
the market steps in and generates all kinds of provenance by conducting
kinds of provenance by conducting
kinds of provenance by conducting primary and secondary market sales by
primary and secondary market sales by
primary and secondary market sales by performing appraisals and valuations by
performing appraisals and valuations by
performing appraisals and valuations by doing a state and insurance planning and
doing a state and insurance planning and
doing a state and insurance planning and then our curators our researchers and
then our curators our researchers and
then our curators our researchers and our historians they use this provenance
our historians they use this provenance
our historians they use this provenance and create more provenance as they build
and create more provenance as they build
and create more provenance as they build upon their own collections and mandates
upon their own collections and mandates
upon their own collections and mandates provenance therefore is the key
provenance therefore is the key
provenance therefore is the key ingredient in understanding the history
ingredient in understanding the history
ingredient in understanding the history of art what artists are really starved
of art what artists are really starved
of art what artists are really starved for is the ability to have influence and
for is the ability to have influence and
for is the ability to have influence and authority over their own provenance some
authority over their own provenance some
authority over their own provenance some of you may remember playing that
of you may remember playing that
of you may remember playing that telephone game back in school where you
telephone game back in school where you
telephone game back in school where you and your classmates stand in a line in a
and your classmates stand in a line in a
and your classmates stand in a line in a phrase is whispered from one person to
phrase is whispered from one person to
phrase is whispered from one person to the next and by the end of the line the
the next and by the end of the line the
the next and by the end of the line the phrase has inevitably changed this is
phrase has inevitably changed this is
phrase has inevitably changed this is essentially how provenance information
essentially how provenance information
essentially how provenance information is managed in the art world today as a
is managed in the art world today as a
is managed in the art world today as a work of art moves through the
work of art moves through the
work of art moves through the marketplace especially in the early
marketplace especially in the early
marketplace especially in the early stages information is easily lost and
stages information is easily lost and
stages information is easily lost and when it comes time for an appraisal or
when it comes time for an appraisal or
when it comes time for an appraisal or evaluation a lot of times our provenance
evaluation a lot of times our provenance
evaluation a lot of times our provenance has become
has become
has become I got this painting from my uncle and I
I got this painting from my uncle and I
I got this painting from my uncle and I don’t know anything about it
don’t know anything about it
don’t know anything about it and at that point the artists and their
and at that point the artists and their
and at that point the artists and their legacy is gone information associated
legacy is gone information associated
legacy is gone information associated with the origins and locations of
with the origins and locations of
with the origins and locations of individual works of art typically comes
individual works of art typically comes
individual works of art typically comes from the market in 2016 63% of all
from the market in 2016 63% of all
from the market in 2016 63% of all market transactions were conducted by
market transactions were conducted by
market transactions were conducted by art dealers and art galleries of these
art dealers and art galleries of these
art dealers and art galleries of these organizations 80 percent are single
organizations 80 percent are single
organizations 80 percent are single operators with no employees I work in
operators with no employees I work in
operators with no employees I work in this world and I can tell you that the
this world and I can tell you that the
this world and I can tell you that the most common form of record-keeping used
most common form of record-keeping used
most common form of record-keeping used here is pen and paper the other 37% of
here is pen and paper the other 37% of
here is pen and paper the other 37% of market transactions are conducted by
market transactions are conducted by
market transactions are conducted by auction houses of these transactions 60
auction houses of these transactions 60
auction houses of these transactions 60 percent are done by just 10
percent are done by just 10
percent are done by just 10 organizations I also work in this world
organizations I also work in this world
organizations I also work in this world and auction houses might be a little bit
and auction houses might be a little bit
and auction houses might be a little bit better at the record-keeping but the
better at the record-keeping but the
better at the record-keeping but the industry is completely unregulated and
industry is completely unregulated and
industry is completely unregulated and there is absolutely no requirement for
there is absolutely no requirement for
there is absolutely no requirement for accuracy so while the art market is
accuracy so while the art market is
accuracy so while the art market is strong financially the art world as a
strong financially the art world as a
strong financially the art world as a whole suffers because of a lack of
whole suffers because of a lack of
whole suffers because of a lack of transparency and the disconnect that
transparency and the disconnect that
transparency and the disconnect that happens between an artist and their work
happens between an artist and their work
happens between an artist and their work so how do we maintain that connection
so how do we maintain that connection
so how do we maintain that connection how do you enable an industry to be
how do you enable an industry to be
how do you enable an industry to be historically responsible and how it
historically responsible and how it
historically responsible and how it manages its data and do it in a way that
manages its data and do it in a way that
manages its data and do it in a way that protects the rights of the artists in my
protects the rights of the artists in my
protects the rights of the artists in my opinion it’s time for the art world to
opinion it’s time for the art world to
opinion it’s time for the art world to adopt a standardized means of artwork
adopt a standardized means of artwork
adopt a standardized means of artwork identification a sign a globally unique
identification a sign a globally unique
identification a sign a globally unique ID number to every work of art created
ID number to every work of art created
ID number to every work of art created globally unique IDs are everywhere
globally unique IDs are everywhere
globally unique IDs are everywhere commerce as we know it today would not
commerce as we know it today would not
commerce as we know it today would not exist without them just about everything
exist without them just about everything
exist without them just about everything you buy has barcode on it every day
you buy has barcode on it every day
you buy has barcode on it every day millions of packages are shipped all
millions of packages are shipped all
millions of packages are shipped all around the world each with a global
around the world each with a global
around the world each with a global tracking number now I once had an artist
tracking number now I once had an artist
tracking number now I once had an artist say to me that the thought of putting a
say to me that the thought of putting a
say to me that the thought of putting a barcode on his art work made him want to
barcode on his art work made him want to
barcode on his art work made him want to puke the perception here being that the
puke the perception here being that the
puke the perception here being that the barcode is a symbol of commercialization
barcode is a symbol of commercialization
barcode is a symbol of commercialization and we need to move past this perception
and we need to move past this perception
and we need to move past this perception and look at the function and utility
and look at the function and utility
and look at the function and utility that a global unique ID can provide the
that a global unique ID can provide the
that a global unique ID can provide the publishing industry has the ISBN the
publishing industry has the ISBN the
publishing industry has the ISBN the international standard book number is a
international standard book number is a
international standard book number is a 10 to 3
10 to 3
10 to 3 digit number that gets assigned to a
digit number that gets assigned to a
digit number that gets assigned to a book before it is published and sold in
book before it is published and sold in
book before it is published and sold in traditional or online bookstores the
traditional or online bookstores the
traditional or online bookstores the ISBN is also used to organized databases
ISBN is also used to organized databases
ISBN is also used to organized databases that make it very easy to figure out
that make it very easy to figure out
that make it very easy to figure out when and where a book was published and
when and where a book was published and
when and where a book was published and what type of copyright might be
what type of copyright might be
what type of copyright might be associated every vehicle on the road has
associated every vehicle on the road has
associated every vehicle on the road has a VIN number a vehicle identification
a VIN number a vehicle identification
a VIN number a vehicle identification number that has stamped on the vehicle
number that has stamped on the vehicle
number that has stamped on the vehicle before it leaves the factory this number
before it leaves the factory this number
before it leaves the factory this number makes automobile insurance possible in
makes automobile insurance possible in
makes automobile insurance possible in several countries of adopted systems
several countries of adopted systems
several countries of adopted systems that use the VIN to track service and
that use the VIN to track service and
that use the VIN to track service and accident history protecting the consumer
accident history protecting the consumer
accident history protecting the consumer from fraud and providing a framework to
from fraud and providing a framework to
from fraud and providing a framework to indent to identify and investigate theft
indent to identify and investigate theft
indent to identify and investigate theft assigning a globally unique ID to every
assigning a globally unique ID to every
assigning a globally unique ID to every work of art created would have a similar
work of art created would have a similar
work of art created would have a similar benefit to the art world it would
benefit to the art world it would
benefit to the art world it would provide a definitive record on that work
provide a definitive record on that work
provide a definitive record on that work of art’s origins and detailed
of art’s origins and detailed
of art’s origins and detailed information on copyright or reuse it
information on copyright or reuse it
information on copyright or reuse it would reduce the complexity and
would reduce the complexity and
would reduce the complexity and identifying forgeries and reduce the
identifying forgeries and reduce the
identifying forgeries and reduce the risk during the process of
risk during the process of
risk during the process of authentication and appraisal now granted
authentication and appraisal now granted
authentication and appraisal now granted the art world is a cottage industry with
the art world is a cottage industry with
the art world is a cottage industry with many small participants each
many small participants each
many small participants each individually lacking resources and
individually lacking resources and
individually lacking resources and knowledge and that’s why the art world
knowledge and that’s why the art world
knowledge and that’s why the art world needs to learn a few lessons from the
needs to learn a few lessons from the
needs to learn a few lessons from the tech world and begin to embrace the
tech world and begin to embrace the
tech world and begin to embrace the concepts of the open-source model when
concepts of the open-source model when
concepts of the open-source model when open collaboration is embraced it can
open collaboration is embraced it can
open collaboration is embraced it can enable small teams of people to do great
enable small teams of people to do great
enable small teams of people to do great things and the building blocks are
things and the building blocks are
things and the building blocks are already there many industries have begun
already there many industries have begun
already there many industries have begun to adopt in and invest in a open-source
to adopt in and invest in a open-source
to adopt in and invest in a open-source technology called the blockchain the
technology called the blockchain the
technology called the blockchain the blockchain is a decentralized ledger of
blockchain is a decentralized ledger of
blockchain is a decentralized ledger of digital events a ledger that doesn’t
digital events a ledger that doesn’t
digital events a ledger that doesn’t need any single organisation to function
need any single organisation to function
need any single organisation to function or remain accessible in the terms of
or remain accessible in the terms of
or remain accessible in the terms of tracking and storing authoritative
tracking and storing authoritative
tracking and storing authoritative information about works of art the
information about works of art the
information about works of art the blockchain holds immense potential and
blockchain holds immense potential and
blockchain holds immense potential and it’s something that many believe will
it’s something that many believe will
it’s something that many believe will have major transformative effects on the
have major transformative effects on the
have major transformative effects on the world all around us imagine a world
world all around us imagine a world
world all around us imagine a world where at the point of creation an artist
where at the point of creation an artist
where at the point of creation an artist stores the initial pieces of provenance
stores the initial pieces of provenance
stores the initial pieces of provenance in a permanent record a record that is
in a permanent record a record that is
in a permanent record a record that is unalterable and can be attached to the
unalterable and can be attached to the
unalterable and can be attached to the work of art yet exists digitally and
work of art yet exists digitally and
work of art yet exists digitally and independent of any individual
independent of any individual
independent of any individual organization
organization
organization or government it would be without a
or government it would be without a
or government it would be without a doubt the most authoritative piece of
doubt the most authoritative piece of
doubt the most authoritative piece of information that could ever exist on
information that could ever exist on
information that could ever exist on that work of art and it would become the
that work of art and it would become the
that work of art and it would become the pivotal block to which all other events
pivotal block to which all other events
pivotal block to which all other events of provenance could be associated and
of provenance could be associated and
of provenance could be associated and regardless of the journey that that
regardless of the journey that that
regardless of the journey that that artwork takes the provenance always
artwork takes the provenance always
artwork takes the provenance always leads back to the point of creation this
leads back to the point of creation this
leads back to the point of creation this guarantees the artist at the very least
guarantees the artist at the very least
guarantees the artist at the very least a seat at the table imagine a world
a seat at the table imagine a world
a seat at the table imagine a world where the work of any artist could be
where the work of any artist could be
where the work of any artist could be authenticated an attribution or credit
authenticated an attribution or credit
authenticated an attribution or credit given imagine a world where the stories
given imagine a world where the stories
given imagine a world where the stories around a work of arts influence can be
around a work of arts influence can be
around a work of arts influence can be more easily captured and preserved where
more easily captured and preserved where
more easily captured and preserved where the people who come in contact with that
the people who come in contact with that
the people who come in contact with that work of art can add their stories to
work of art can add their stories to
work of art can add their stories to that permanent record because this is
that permanent record because this is
that permanent record because this is where the real inspiration happens with
where the real inspiration happens with
where the real inspiration happens with art it’s the one-on-one time you spend
art it’s the one-on-one time you spend
art it’s the one-on-one time you spend with it
with it
with it it’s that mural you walk past every day
it’s that mural you walk past every day
it’s that mural you walk past every day that makes Monday mornings less Monday
that makes Monday mornings less Monday
that makes Monday mornings less Monday ish or it’s that painting that’s hanging
ish or it’s that painting that’s hanging
ish or it’s that painting that’s hanging in your grandparents house that catches
in your grandparents house that catches
in your grandparents house that catches your eye when you enter the room and
your eye when you enter the room and
your eye when you enter the room and makes your imagination soar art speaks
makes your imagination soar art speaks
makes your imagination soar art speaks to us on an individual level regardless
to us on an individual level regardless
to us on an individual level regardless of our interest in having it do so and
of our interest in having it do so and
of our interest in having it do so and the work of any artist has the power to
the work of any artist has the power to
the work of any artist has the power to change the world even if it’s only ever
change the world even if it’s only ever
change the world even if it’s only ever seen once
”
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