JOSE
Artist/cultural producer, male, São Paulo, active since: 1996, mixed–photo-video-installation-drawing-public art
PRODUCTION COSTS
rent - home, studio 200 €
material 50 €
phone&internet 50 €
transport 30 €
equipment in last 4 years 2000 €
health plan 100 € per month
=470 €/m
PRIVATE LIFE
ca. 200 €/month
=670€/m altogether
WORKING TIMES
assistant to artist 30 h/w
work with collective – projects (diff. projects, diff. to measure) 20 h/w
drawing (sometimes more, sometimes less) 10 h/w
ART PROVIDES SUFFICIENT INCOME TO SURVIVE?
partly – working for an artist – 12 years – since 2000 more of own things – started giving classes, workshops in cultural centers (workshops on stickers, drawing)
INCOME
job for artist (computer, putting up installation, drawing, assistant)- 12 years
workshops, scenography & animation, curatorial projects - in the last year 2 months, in 2000 - 80% of income
Financial situation is partly secure, trying to keep myself over the water.
My work is partly saleable – sometimes I sell drawings but I feel more that it would be the ‘forca da trabalho’, ‘power of work’, through workshops & events –in cultural centres… I don’t really like to sell drawings or other “personal” work, too personal, too intimate. In the case of the “power of work” no problem.
Being a freelancer - it’s ok. Working in cultural institution with a fix job would not come into question – rather with a person – more contact – more communication – not being institutionalized – but this makes it harder.
SOCIAL SECURITY?
YES, private health plan –there are public health plans but they are no good - anybody who can afford it takes a private plan.
health insurance x
pension insurance no
GENDER ISSUE
In art there is no difference in Brazil. There are a lot of women producing - connected to the history of art in the last century –since the beginning of 20th century there have been female artists that are inscribed in the history of art.
WORKING IN A GROUP OR NETWORK?
YES –content articulation connected, not really economical –we are more, we can do more. I work in two collectives, they are again inscribed in larger context, larger collectives.
In the last 5 years it has become common in Brazil –a lot of people getting involved in collectives - it is becoming more common, that people from other professions are joining in –communication is spreading.
Percentage of people working in collectives - maybe 25% -also a combination of different ways of working with art.
Vienna, March 28, 2006