Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hope dealers will stop selling Rolf Harris's artwork?

105 replies

windchime · 06/07/2014 17:31

Ebay is awash with listings for Rolf Harris's artwork, and there is no shortage of people wanting to bid for it. None of it is going cheap, and it is like nothing happened. Ebay's stance is 'because he isn't a violent felon, the listings are within their policies. AIBU to think everything to do with his work should be buried and forgotten?

OP posts:
flyingtrue · 06/07/2014 18:08

If it's awash with artwork doesn't that imply that perhaps some people also want rid?

They let criminals sell autobiography's and reap the rewards of their acts, there's not that much difference here. Sounds like it's private dealers selling, not money going to him.

I wouldn't want one in my house, I can't imagine many people would want something by him to keep and cherish but i can image that someone can easily find a business reason to buy and sell his artwork. I do also expect some people just want rid as well

LucyStafford · 06/07/2014 18:10

But Pagwatch did you buy the GG album before he was convicted of being a paedophile?

Buying artwork by RH right now seems off somehow.

WaywardOn3 · 06/07/2014 18:10

It's still selling well? I'll have to let my friend know, he's paranoid that he's going to be stuck with a worthless piece of art

SolidGoldBrass · 06/07/2014 18:13

DS'sDad.has.a.RH.painting.He.was.going/to.burn.it.I.said.sell.it.and.give.
the.money.to.charity.

Pagwatch · 06/07/2014 18:20

I'm slightly offended at the idea that I ever bought a Gary glitter album on musical grounds alone.

No, I didn't buy it and I wouldn't sell it because the market would be the weird and the sensationalist. But I still don't have a problem with anyone who privately loves 'leader of the gang'

I think the 'burn it/ urgh' reaction is a bit odd and self serving. It's a bit 'I hate child abuse this much' . Like 'like this if you hate child abuse' statuses on Facebook.

LucyStafford · 06/07/2014 18:32

I agree with that Pagwatch.
However I wouldn't be buying any RH's paintings in a hurry.

parallax80 · 06/07/2014 18:35

Yes, I try to boycott Gill Sans whenever possible. (I realise that no-one cares, but nevertheless...)

CoffeeTea103 · 06/07/2014 18:38

It's over now get over it. You don't have to buy it and it won't stop other people doing so. Hmm

Nomama · 06/07/2014 19:08

parallax, I had to digitise it to make the new font, back in the 80s. The whole family of his typefaces had to be made for the modern era.

It was a weird thought to have as I worked.

MrsBoldon · 06/07/2014 19:13

Lewis Carroll was a great admirer of young girls and even in the infancy of photography had many photos of naked girl children. The 'Alice' stories were based on a real 7 year old girl.

He wrote to a friend ' I confess I do not admire naked boys in pictures. They always seem. .to need clothes whereas one hardly sees why the lovely forms of girls should ever be covered up'.

Possibly completely innocent (?) but don't see anyone clamouring to have his works deemed offensive or not considered to have value.

BackOnlyBriefly · 06/07/2014 19:14

YABU and inconsistent unless you want to ban every bit of art or literature that is connected with crime.

You are also demanding something that goes against our justice system.

If you don't like it then don't buy it.

Also lots of people are opposed to crimes and criminals without trying to score points for themselves by publicly parading their hatred of it.

FreeSpirit89 · 06/07/2014 19:14

I think YABU - his songs and artwork didn't abuse children.

HappyAgainOneDay · 06/07/2014 19:16

Haven't Hitler's paintings been sold at auction and raised millions? He was far worse ......

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 06/07/2014 19:19

Quite what does a painting got to do with anything?

He was a bloody good artist.

Sorry I just don't see a connection.

LynetteScavo · 06/07/2014 19:21

Rolf is more famous because of his recent conviction.

The more famous a person, the more their art will sell for.

Would you rather everyone who owned a piece of his art burn it?

It's not as if RH himself is going to benefit from the sale of the artwork.s.

Kundry · 06/07/2014 20:09

There was an interesting article about the likely value of Rolf Harris's art here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10940857/Blotting-out-memories-of-Rolf-Harris.html

Upshot being that if you are a good artist (Eric Gill, Graham Ovenden) work will continue to sell at a lower price but some subject matter won't sell at all.

However was Rolf a good artist or just a celebrity? Personally I think the latter and although there will be a market for his work, it will be very very small and made of people buying for it's celebrity/shock value not the real art market.

ForalltheSaints · 06/07/2014 20:31

My Rolf Harris record went in the dustbin yesterday.

SnotandBothered · 06/07/2014 20:54

Agree that the art is separate.

RH is not profiting from sales between collectors. It's neither here nor there who owns a picture.

On that basis, films made by Roman Polanski should be destroyed as should (depending on your viewpoint) Woody Allen films.

Art is art and is unfortunately, sometimes, born out of the darkest minds.

RuddyDuck · 07/07/2014 02:01

Icannot think if another oaedophile artist

Windchime, Eric Gill springs to mind immediately.

RuddyDuck · 07/07/2014 02:02

Sorry for typos - bloody touchscreen.....

AgaPanthers · 07/07/2014 02:13

Jonathan King (paedophile)

Roman Polanski (raped 13 year old girl)

Ian Watkins (sexual offences against babies)

Bill Wyman (sexual reationship with a 13/14 year old girl)

Actually a very high proportion of male pop stars of the 60s and 70s had sex with underage groupies.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 07/07/2014 02:16

LastTango echoes my views, as does Pagwatch. The number of threads that endlessly discuss Rolf Harris never ceases to amaze me.

patjen · 07/07/2014 07:26

YABU.

I think that in all things the art must be separated from the artist. The art didn't abuse anybody. It's like TOTP getting rid of all Saville material; it's really irritating: TOTP (like it or loathe it) didn't abuse anybody.

Also deleting material is NEVER good; things should stay as they happened when it comes to TV/film etc.

I also find that there is an expectation in society for talented people to be good people, too. Doesn't work that way, sorry.

ExcuseTypos · 07/07/2014 07:45

I agree with you op. why would anyone want to buy a RH picture, now, having heard about what he's done.

I'm also a bit perplexed at the comments saying people should stop posting threads about RH?

Some people aren't on MN very often, this may be the first time they've posted about it. just someone's you have seen 35 on a subject, doesn't mean everyone else has.

HappyAgainOneDay · 07/07/2014 08:47

Forallthe Saints

Why could you not have offered your record on Freecycle. It would have been snapped up!

I would have had it because I enjoyed his songs.