Until now I have been visiting quite a lot of artist studios here in our art village or outside of it (see again the many pictures). It’s a pity that often the language causes a big problem in talking to each other about the art, how they earn their money and how they live. But sometimes someone speaks some English and it also happens that suddenly an English speaking person pops up, probably informed by the cell phone. In that case you can really learn more about their live. Because all the artists I met till now are very friendly, hospitable and willing to give answers to a curious member of the art club.

So I learned in the domain of finances that the yearly rent for the huge studios in the village is about € 5000. Well, that means now! Because in the last few years it rose nearly by a factor two. If in the centre you have to pay € 500 to € 1000 for a modest apartment this of course is not too much when you take into account that these studios are big enough to live in comfortably. But in my eyes it’s still a lot of money in China although it seems that a lot of artists can afford it and still have enough money left to buy a big car. Of course a number of them has a second job for living but of some I know they have a contract with a gallery. It seems this is more common here than in Holland. Sometimes it’s a very strict contract and they are not allowed to have other selling points, sometimes they just have to deliver a certain number of paintings a year and can do with the rest what they like.

May be the cars are explained by the fact that in China you don’t have to pay tax for art, that bills are not really necessary and that there are already a lot of very rich Chinese collectors who by art by the dozens out of status considerations and then of course not go for the small ones but only for the very big. I wonder what would happen if the government makes a new law in which tax for art is introduced. Or do they like to keep the situation like it is now with a lot of usually more liberal thinking artists, working satisfied in their art enclaves? An intriguing question!