Herb and Dorothy Vogel – buying what you love

That’s what it is isn’t it? Buying art you love, buying design that makes you happy, that stirs something inside of you and speaks to you. I discussed this in my post What does Warhol have to do with Interior Design and how it was important to not be swayed by trends and fashion but to be impassioned by art and an interior that creates it’s own language.

I saw this documentary on BBC4 the other day – per chance as I usually tape everything and never watch live TV, and was transported by the simplicity of this couple’s passion. Herb and Dorothy bought what they loved, from artists they loved. They lived a life of penury almost to satisfy a craving, a love and a belief that art fills one’s life with a simple appreciation of man’s artistic output.

The one bedroom apartment in Manhattan was a shock I must admit – and until they gave their first collection to the National Gallery of Art I did think it was sad that most things were wrapped and hidden away due to the limited space and also to preserve the works of art from the light.  As the then curator said, what if the fish tanks sprung a leak or there was a fire? What then of the conceptual and minimalist works of art that would be destroyed?

It was good to see that at last nearly 5000 works of art were to be shown and shared with a public that it has to be said should be eternally grateful to this couple. They bought early works from unknown artists, went to every art gallery and museum, to every vernissage and really got to know the artists they loved. I think that is what I admire the most, that they bought what they loved and  took the time to get to know the person behind the art.

After seeing this documentary I did a bit of research and saw that Herb had passed away recently in July this year, a sad moment but then I thought what a life! What a happy happy life! His wife and him left an amazing legacy but mostly a message of how simple but wonderful life can be.