While a kindergartener’s finger-painted picture may seem priceless to their parents, hundreds of people in the art world set high price tags for pictures that may seem up to par with that of a young preschooler. Recently, a documentary was released of a young girl whose story ran across the head lines about two years ago. The film “My Kid Could Paint That”, presents the story of little Marla, just 4 years old when the story began, and her rise to fame when her paintings started to be sold in an art gallery in up-state New York.
Although the film serves its purpose in showing the little girl's story and how she managed to create these magnificent abstract paintings, it does raise a good question on art. When is something considered art, and who is it that can set the price on it? In revealing the story of Marla, the documentary also showed an report that was done on 60 Minutes which stated that Marla simply painted like any other preschooler and that her parents had to be helping her with the art. It was then up to the director of the documentary to film Marla painting on of the abstract pieces in order to prove to the world that the art was really hers. However, it is more than evident in the film that the painting that was recorded was not merely as high quality as the painting Marla had sold before.
In not finding a straight conclusion to the accusations, the question of art being a lie is brought up. A New York Times reporter that was interviewed for the film states, "all art is a lie".
Upon hearing this, I was more than shocked, but then in taking time to think about it, this statement was true. I now believe that art is art only when someone is willing to call it that, and it is a lie because it is not showing us a truth. Although this can be argued with earlier paintings which were set up to show realistic images, contemporary art is a clear example of how a persons interpretation creates the art. However, if it is a person's interpretation of the art that makes it a good piece, who is it then that can set up these sometimes ridiculous prices on these paintings? Should art be priced on personal value, or on the value that others give to it?
To a parent, their kids smear may seem priceless, but who is to say that it isn't?
