Robert Ballagh has long been recognised for his political engagement; BRIAN McAVERA asks him to enlarge on the artist’s position in
society ahead of his retrospective at the RHA in September
Brian McAvera: Bobbie, you’ve long campaigned for Artist ‘ Resale Rights (Droit de Suite), and on the 19th of June John O’Donoghue TD welcomed the signing of the Regulations providing said right – one that had long been opposed by the auction house. Can you summarise for us your views on this ‘right?
Robert Ballagh: You’re quite correct in calling it a ‘right’: it is! And it simply brings artists into line with composers, playwright and so forth. Why is the trade opposed to it? I think the art trade is one of the last of the totally unregulated trades in the world. Even the Stock Exchange is regulated! The great auction houses have all been in trouble with the law: leading auctioneers have been jailed for running cartels. I think they fear a small element of transparency entering the trade. It can’t be the money as the sums are paltry.
There used to be the argument that it would inhibit or damage trade, but both Sotheby’s and Christie’s recent auctions of Irish art in London disproved that, as they sold more than ever, despite the UK’s introduction of Resale Rights.
