The art is on the wall and you want it, but the crunch is hitting your pocket. So how bad do you want it? Would you give the artist… 40 hours a week as their butler? Your soul? Or maybe just a hug?
The bidding is up to you for 50 pieces by Tracy Emin; Polly Morgan; Gavin Turk and Matt Collishaw at the Art Barter auction/exhibition at the Rag Factory just off Brick Lane.
Much like the annual RCA Secret, the work by these big-guns will sit unnamed among some of London’s latest graduate work chosen by curators Lauren Jones (25) and Alix Janta (28). 'We can't wait to see how creative people will be with their offers,' Laura says with a smile. 'And we like the idea that the art won't be associated with a price tag. It's just what you think it's worth.'
After four days the offers will be collected – hopefully interesting enough to make up an exhibition of their own one day – and taken to the artists, who retain right of refusal. An online platform is the end goal, where all kinds of arts-swaps will be welcome.