Imaginary Economics

The age of thinking that art has nothing to do with the economy is clearly over. Imaginary Economics has to do with artists who analyze and parody economic processes and phenomena in their work. Aside from well-known figures from twentieth-century art, such as Marcel Duchamp, Yves Klein, Marcel Broodthaers and Joseph Beuys, a great many contemporary artists - including Jeff Koons, Santiago Sierra, Rob Scholte, Michael Landy and Matthieu Laurette - appear to be interested in the economy as well. Economically inspired art can evidently be seen as a refreshing source of knowledge on our market economy. From an unorthodox vantage point, Olav Velthuis (economics editor of de Volkskrant) sheds new light on the world of big money.