Angelo Aguilar Mateo

2006-78920
ARTS 1 X2

As an artist, money is everything to produce a quality art. But the documentary exposes
beyond what I can imagine and it is mind blowing since we are talking about million dollars’
worth of art. My experience as a musical artist is not much of a money generating profession but
I am happy with what I am doing.

My experience from arts is not likely what the documentary exposes. We artist always
talks about arts and nothing less. We talk about technicality, forms, expressions etc. Some rich
people support art as a bragging right or uses art for a higher status which is very much regular
traits of rich people. But opening my eyes from the documentary, makes me wonder, does it
happen here in the Philippines? Some politicians do acquire million dollars’ worth art but is there
an auction, gallerist or middleman per se within our community? I have no idea that it’s this
intense when it comes to competition between the rich people and also there’s an illegal activity
just to acquire a work of art and manipulate the market not protecting the artists and exploit
them. Not talking about the art, the meaning of it dissipates.

On the one hand, artist produces art for money and fame and on the other hand artist
produce art as a piece of their mind reflecting through the eyes of the beholder. Art market is
only beneficial for a small pool of artists around the world. I don’t think this kind of market will
be applicable in our country. It’s a rich people business and they do not appreciate art for what it
is but for what it’s worth.