The idea of the bohemian artist, poor yet determined in pursuit of creative expression, is a trope that has existed throughout the history of human civilization. Often excluded from mainstream cultural discourse is the importance of arts patronage, which has been crucial to the development of the arts for centuries and is core to our understanding of culture. Most noteworthy, perhaps, are the Medici or Sforza families of the Renaissance era, who provided protection, sponsorship and commissions to artists. Indeed, many of history’s most celebrated masterpieces, or even art movements, would not have come to fruition without the support of such benefactors. This bilateral patron-client relationship has evolved since then, and continues to evolve in the contemporary art landscape. A pantheon of modern-day Medicis, such as the Guggenheims, the Rockefellers,…
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ArtAsiaPacific (Digital) - 1 Issue, Mar/Apr 2017