Mika Merviö’s book does not seek to give definitive answers, because he doesn’t have any, and I doubt that anyone ever could. But he does clarify a series of issues and places art in a central role within culture, recognising that without art, culture would cease to make sense and as such we need not only to understand its processes, but also to know how to value it and understand the place it occupies, and has always occupied, in society. According to the author: “While there are more active artists in the world than ever before and while many art markets are still in their formative phase it will take a long time before we have a better idea of the lasting impact of the present generation of contemporary artists”. If we are not able, as yet, to gauge the impact of the current generation of artists on the art market, we are able, according to Merviö, to see that the transformations, both technological and ideological have been unable to remove mankind’s need for enjoying, consuming or interpreting art. And for this reason, this book is a guide for anyone looking for a better understanding of the continually-changing yet permanently stubborn art world.
– Prof. Mirian Tavares, University of Algarve