Caleb Larsen’s Tool to Deceive and Slaughter is on view at Lawrimore Project, but it sold on e-Bay earlier today for $6,350. Auction over? No. This auction will never be over.
Review here. Frquently asked questions below.
- Q: Doesn’t the first sale doctrine prevent you from collecting further payment past the initial sale of the item?
A: In order to be recognized as a work of art the contract must be
adhered to, and regards of who owns it and who buys it the contract
remains between the artist and the purchaser, not between buyer and
seller.
-
Q: What means does it use to connect to the Internet ? Wireless or other ?
A: It specifically connect via wired ethernet, and it automatically obtains is IP through DHCP. -
Q: If I were to buy this, how long could I expect to own it before it sells itself again?
A: It is hard to say. Like any commodity it is subject to demand. It
could be moments or years. The perpetual state of uncertainty and the
instability of ownership are primary components of the work. -
Q: How would you handle the contingencies of ebay shutting down/going
under? It seems difficult to maintain the “perpetual” state of auction
for more than a few millennia.
A: The contract and the piece were designed to be platform agnostic to
accommodate for this. If eBay dries up and disappears, then another
platform, either propriety or public, can be used for the selling. -
Q: What happens if the minimum bid is not met for one of the sales?
A: If the minimum bid is not met, then it will repost itself a few minutes after the auction ends. -
Q: How does one use this item? Is there a manual?
A: It is largely automated, but instructions for cleaning, maintenance,
etc will be given to the purchaser after the sale. Any necessary
hardware and software maintenance upgrades are the responsibility of
the artist. -
Q: Is the owner of the Artwork allowed to bid on it in the auction? If
so, is the owner still bound by clause #10, having to pay the Artist
extra money even without making a profit?
A: Hi. The owner of the Artwork is bound by the structures within which
the work is being sold, in this case eBay. So bidding on something that
one is selling constitutes ‘shill bidding’which is against the rules
on eBay. Thanks for the question!
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