THE ART MERRY-GO-ROUND

The New York art scene during the 1980s was at once magnificent and horrifying. Never had SoHo seen so many artists clamoring for attention, so many dealers hunting for the latest trends, so many collectors eager to buy. THE ART MERRY-GO-ROUND attempts to chart a labyrinth of successful, emerging and fringe artists and their relationships with collectors, dealers, curators and critics. Among the leading artists featured is Julian Schnabel, who demonstrates how Warholism functions, and Jeff Koons, defending his most recent work with something close to a straight face. Director Marijke Jongbloed does not attempt to survey the whole system, but rather helps to encourage a better understanding of a closed and secretive subculture.