... "Self-management within the business of art", "How do I survive as an artist?", "How artists successfully defend their rights", "Promoting young artists in the visual arts" are just a few of the titles in the quick access shelf "Career Service" here in the library that are supposed to pave the way for aspiring artists to a successful career. This multitude of guide books can be rather daunting.
Titian Baldinger, an artist himself; Timon R. Böse, an art scholar and author; and an internationally known artist who wishes to remain anonymous, have condensed all the important information into a handy little paperback that has just been published. This book offers a good starting point for getting a holistic overview before approaching the above-mentioned individual topics in a focused manner.
As in any good biography, the publication starts with the birth, the base or beginning: the art, the artist and the success. To succeed, it is necessary to know your environment, understand the system you are in and function within it. In the words of the internationally known artist who wishes to remain anonymous, "The bad news first: the art world is an utopia. The good news: if you become part of the system before you give up or go insane, it's pretty enjoyable to live in this utopia"1. In short concise paragraphs the life of an artist gets explored. Nothing is glossed over rather attention is drawn to dangers and unnecessary distractions. The appearance as an artist is just as important as the art itself, the process in which it is created, the studio, titling of the work, reception and artistic freedom. After all, the motto "Everything for art" applies - "You have to breathe art, eat it, rub yourself with it, etc.".2
At the same time, factors and strategies for success are discussed. Practical knowledge such as exhibiting, selling, working with a gallery, making art collectible, grants, commissions, self-promotion and dealing with bureaucracy are outlined. Finally, the publication offers strategies for dealing with success and failure, crisis management, Plan B or the exit. This also includes the artist's death, because a successful career does not ends there, but continues with an efficient management of the artist’s estate.
In conclusion: "Keep enjoying to create work - joy is more important than success"3.
Should the need for more in-depth knowledge arise after this very fast galloping piece of literature, then the missing information can be sourced strategically with available publications here in the library or advice can be requested directly from the academy’s own Career Service.
1 NN. p. 37
2 Ibd. p. 101
3 Ibd. p. 175
