The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Artist.

Abstract

Through critical theories and surveys, the essay is exploring what is written or said about the living and working conditions for artists in Denmark in the 2000s and 2010s. By reflecting on the difficult question of who or what is considered to be a good visual artist, the aim of the essay is not discussing the hypothetical question regarding the quality or definition of good art. Instead, the essay tries to point out the choices, the values or the political stand, from a Danish point of view, that categorize a good artist and perhaps also a successful artist. By discussing how open calls, public or social art can lead an artist to potential speculating on the choice in the hunt for commissions, exhibitions or recognition. By the inspiration of Sergio Leone´s movie "The good, the bad and the ugly" from 1966, and with his help of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegal philosophy about the Unknown Known, the overall aim of this text is to reflect on three groups or categories of artists: Good, Bad and Ugly or populistic artist as someone being in-between good and bad. Based on the choices, political value and opportunities as visual artist is having, the essay lead to the open question of what direction or form art has today.