Modern art at Christie's on February 11: "From the Space Age to the Present Day

ARTinvestment.RU – 06.02.2010,11:10

February 11 in London will be held the evening auction Christie's «The postwar and contemporary art." At the auction will be billed 52 lot, the total estimate of which is 26,29-38,26 million pounds. Today, February 6, called the pre-auction display.

works to the attention of collectors, covering the time interval for the last 60 years. Top auction lots are works created in the early 1960's, including works by Yves Klein, Peter Doig, Martin Kippenberger, Raghib Shaw, Neo Rauch, Frank Auerbach, Andy Warhol, Nicolas de Stael.

Head of European Department of Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's, Francis Autrid said: "In the upcoming auction to bid will be presented with a series of works, most of whom are works created during the early space age. This is one of the most fruitful periods in this category, he had an indisputable impact on the further development of the history of art in general. We are honored to stand up for auction "Golden sponge RE47II» Yves Klein, who is one of two surviving works of this kind, along with his own work entitled "Anthropometry (ANT 5) - the largest painting in a series of 6 pieces, created by unique technology of the artist with the use of fire. In addition, the auction will be exhibited works by artists whose work enjoyed a steady demand for 2009 - Peter Doig, Martin Kippenberger and Neo Rauch ».

Fifty years ago, Yuri Gagarin became the first man have flown in space. Meanwhile, President Kennedy announced the U.S. intention to land on the moon, which was reached in 1969. The first steps in space exploration and scientific discoveries associated with this process, became the new benchmark in the history of XX century, transforming it beyond recognition. Of course, all this is reflected in the art of that period, particularly in the works of such renowned artists as Yves Klein, Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni and Richard Hamilton. At February's sale will feature a number of works created in the early 1960's, each in its own way interprets the theme of outer space.

Yves Klein Golden sponge RE47II. 1961 board, gold leaf, sponge, gravel, synthetic rubber. 45,5 x 80 x 7,5 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 16 Estimate: 5-7 million pounds

«Golden sponge RE47II "Yves Klein (1928-1962), along with another similar work has united in itself the main components of the two most famous series of the artist -" Jaw-reliefs "and" gold monochromator. According to researcher Stephen Petersen, the artist's work, "he [Klein] does not only changed the face of modern art in the light of cosmic discovery, but changed the very conception of the cosmos." Established in 1961, when Klein became widely known in the U.S., this work is regularly included in the majority of retrospective exhibitions on the artist's career, including a traveling exhibition in 1983, were shown in such renowned venues of America as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Museum Rice University in Houston, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (ILAC), as well as an exhibition in 2006, held at the Pompidou Center in Paris. Earlier work, which is exhibited on the auctions for the first time since its inception, was in the collection of François de Menila, son of Dominique de Menil - founder of the Houston museum, who was acquired by the present owner around 1980. Its estimated cost is 5-7 million pounds.

Yves Klein Anthropometry (ANT 5). 1962 charred canvas on board, dry pigment, synthetic rubber. 118 x 78 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 15 Estimate: 1,5-2 million pounds

«Anthropometry (ANT 5) "Yves Klein is the most ambitious work of a series of 6 pieces, created by the artist's unique technology with the use of fire (estimate 1,5-2 million pounds). Executed in 1962, shortly before the artist's untimely death at age 34, this work is a shining example of Klein's series of works titled "Anthropometry", created by the human body prints on canvas. These studies were designed to clearly reflect the artist's attempt to make what he called "a leap into the void." They are often portrayed floating body and a symbol that is meant Klein, "universal weightlessness. Klein spray painted on canvas, leaving a women's body contours, and subsequently burned out canvas flamethrower, which led to the formation of patterns in the paintings of the golden color.

PIERO Manzoni achromia. Around 1959 Canvas, kaolin. 50,2 x 61 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 13 Estimate: 600-800 thousand pounds

Among other works, offered for bidding and belonging to the same period, it should be noted "achromia" by Piero Manzoni (1933-1963) in 1960 (estimate 600-800 thousand pounds), two paintings Tàpies (b. 1923) - "A reddish mark on a white background "1963 (estimate 300-400 thousand pounds) and" gray-brown oval in 1959 (estimate 200-300 thousand pounds). Attention collectors will display works by Richard Hamilton (born 1922) entitled "Towards a definitive comments on the future trends in human clothing and accessories (sketch II)» (estimate 80-120 thousand pounds) - a striking example of early pop art which includes an image of Yuri Gagarin, and who is to outline the work of the artist's famous "Toward the final comments on the future trends in human clothing and accessories (Let's explore the stars), located in the collection of the Tate. Theme of space exploration can be traced in three jobs Anish Kapoor (b. 1954), whose work is now at the peak of his popularity, as evidenced by an extensive exhibition of the artist, held in 2009 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. His work "The outbreak of rain-flow" of 2005 is estimated by experts of the auction house in the 400-600 thousand pounds, and estimate the work 'Goddess (Void) "1991 and" Budo "2006 amount to 300-400 thousand.

PETER Doig The western facade of the cement block 1993. Oil on canvas. 199,5 x 275 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 7 Estimate: 2-3 million pounds

Following 2009 at Christie's auction had been achieved three of the four highest price indices for works by Peter Doig (b. 1959). In February, the sale will feature his large-scale painting "West facade of the cement block. On the creation of this artist's work inspired the great architectural works of Le Corbusier, located in the French town of Brie, which Doig first saw in 1961. Le Corbusier himself called these buildings "dwellings", while for Doig, it was a source of inspiration for a series of works exhibited in the Tate and nominated for the Turner Prize in 1994. Employment, trade Christie's, is one of the best in the series and was acquired by the present owner directly from the artist. Estimate canvases of 2-3 million pounds.

MARTIN Kippenberger No title From the series "Dear painter, write me» 1983. Oil on canvas. 199,5 x 130,5 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 6 Estimate: 0,8-1,2 million pounds

MARTIN Kippenberger One Flew Over the Tango. 1982-1983. Fragment Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 44 Estimate: 0,8-1,2 million pounds

In October 2009, at the conclusion of the London auction house Christie's work by Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997) "Paris bar" went under the hammer for 2.3 million pounds, which put her into second place in the list of the most expensive works of the author. At the February auction exhibited two works by famous German artist. Estimate a self-portrait "Untitled" 1983 from series "Dear painter, write me" is 0,8-1,2 million pounds. Other work Kippenberger, consisting of five parts, called "One Flew Over the tango. It was written in 1982-1983 and purchased from the artist by the present owner immediately after its creation. The image of a Chinese boy holding a jar of Coca-Cola, with the central fabric compositions became widely known after the group Manic Street Preachers used it as cover for their single, Faster.

Last year, Christie's set a record for the work of Neo Rauch (b. 1960) "signal-box, sold for 892.45 thousand pounds. At the upcoming auction will be brought to the work of "warehouse" in 1998, which amounts to estimate 500-700 thousand pounds.

Raghib SHOW Garden of earthly delights XIV. 2005 Cardboard, acrylic, glitter, enamel, crystals and other D 142 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 36 Estimate: 500-700 thousand pounds

Creativity Raghib Shaw ( genus. 1974) will be presented at the auction work "Garden of earthly delights XIV» (estimate 500-700 thousand pounds), which is the actual interpretation of the Hieronymus Bosch triptych, located in the Prado Museum.

Frank Auerbach head JY M. 1973. Oil on canvas. 71 x 61 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 29 Estimate: 0,9-1,2 million pounds

At the auction will also be exhibited three works by Frank Auerbach (b. 1931), whose catalog-resonator has been recently published under the editorship of William Fivera. In his artistic technique Auerbach uses dabs of paint so thick that it works more like a bas-relief sculptures than paintings. This technique brought him international recognition, putting on a par with other prominent British artist - Francis Bacon, who was a great admirer of Auerbach. One of the three offered for tender portraits - "Head D.Y.M." - written in 1973. Estimate portrait favorite model Auerbach Julie Yardli Mills is 0,9-1,2 million pounds. This colorful, breathable unique energy work was owned by the present owner since 1974 and, like the two other portraits, never before appeared on the market. "The head of Helen Gillespie VI» - the sixth in a series of nine portraits of Helen Gillespie, written over five years starting in 1961, experts estimated the auction house at 500-700 thousand pounds. Estimated cost of one of the last portraits of Julia Mills, written by the artist in 1996, which is called "Sitting JY M. II», amounts to 180-250 thousand pounds.

Nicolas de Staël Sicily (Agrigento) 1953 Oil on canvas. 60 x 81 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 27 Estimate: 0,7-1 million pounds

at auction Two works will be exhibited Nicolas de Stael. Landscape "Sicily (Agrigento) in 1953 estimated at 0,7-1 million pounds; other versions of this work are now at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (ILAC) and the Museum of Fine Arts in Grenoble. Another piece de Stael - still-life "Red Flowers" of 1952 - tentatively estimated at 600-800 thousand pounds.

in June 2009 at Christie's auction for 163.25 thousand pounds, with in excess of estimate, was sold to work "Golden Heart of Independence" (2004) Portuguese artist Joan Vasconcelos (b. 1971). In February's auction will be invited to the attention of collectors of her work "Marilyn", whose estimated cost is 100-150 thousand pounds. The prototype for the creation of a large scale (three to four meters) installations in the form of shoes on his heels, made of pots, served as shoes heroine Marilyn Monroe in the film "The seven-year itch».

Joan Vasconcelos Marilyn. 2009 pan of stainless steel with lids, cement two parts, each part is 297 x 155 x 410 Christie's. 11/02/2010. Lot number 3 Estimate: 100-150 thousand pounds

Head of European Department of the postwar and Contemporary Art Christie's Francis Autred said: "In the period from late 2008-th to the first half of 2009 the market of contemporary art had been transformed substantially. During the second half of last year's estimate: adjustment led to confidence level of demand exhibited in this category. These sales are an important first auction of postwar and contemporary art in 2010, and we hope that we can meet the needs of those collectors, which returns a sense of confidence ».

Source: press release Christie's