Artists of the world, abandon schools, galleries, and museums. Shun all art institutions like the plague. Make art for your own sake, as well as the sake of those you love and cherish. Abandon all hope of fame and fortune. Abandon all hope of worthless recognition in all its guises. Share your art for free with those who appreciate it. Artists of the world, stop prostituting yourselves. You have nothing but your chains to lose.

Addendum I (January 17, 2008)

Just like I used to do years ago, I printed this piece out, pasted it on a bunch of postcards, and sent it to many artist friends around the world. This was my version of a Christmas card, I guess. Most of my friends did not respond to my provocation. They know me well enough already. But those who did respond had almost nothing to say. “Right,” said one. “Well,” said another. In a nutshell, they all appreciate my charge of prostitution, but they will keep prostituting themselves in spite of their better knowledge. Is there any better definition of an artist, I wonder?

Addendum II (April 21, 2018)

Wonderful, this. As well as entirely useless. Looking back, all my attempts to be of help to my fellow artists have been in vain. Although I gave up in the end, there would be no difference in this regard even if I kept going full blast till this day. Come what may, artists will prostitute themselves in spite of their better knowledge till the end of time. This is their definition, indeed. Luckily for me, I stepped out of the game many years ago. Which is why I was quite surprised by this piece and the first addendum when I came across them on one of my random walks through my writings. They struck me as ancient, no less. Were there no dates attached to them, I would consider them at least a decade older. Artists of the world, go fly a kite!

Addendum III (January 17, 2020)

Given that my house in Motovun goes by the name of Ca’ Bon, and that my second website is named Ca’ Bon Gallery, I regularly receive all sorts of mail from schools, galleries, and museums around the globe. And I cannot believe my eyes what goes as art nowadays. When I open the mail, I often tighten my lips, furrow my eyebrows, and squint my eyes in horror. Yuck! To wit, my call to the artists to stop prostituting themselves has fallen on deaf ears, as expected. And I cannot imagine why would they change their ways for the time being. To my joy, I am very well aware of the end of prostitution in all its forms, including that in the so-called arts. Climate change and environmental degradation will inevitably lead to all-out war and eventual breakup of this rotten civilization of ours. From then on, art will return to its rightful place in human affairs. Those endowed with talent and skill will do their best to cater to the needs of their fellow humans without any thought of recognition, let alone reward in any shape or form. In the meanwhile, let prostitution blossom as it must. Hip hip hooray!