10 and 11 November at New York's Christie's will auction works of art from the collection of the famous dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham (Merce Cunningham, 1919-2009) and his lover, the legendary avant-garde composer John Cage (John Cage, 1912-1992). All proceeds from the sale of works, including paintings of Jasper Johns (Jasper Johns) and Robert Rauschenberg (Robert Rauschenberg), will be used to fund the needs of Merce Cunningham. It is expected that the product yield from 3,5 to 5 million dollars.

Top lot of the auction is a painting Johns' Dancers on a plane "(1981). There are four works with this title: three paintings and one drawing. The word "plane" can mean "image plane", and can serve as a hint to the fact that artists like dancers, are working on a flat surface. According to the artist, playing with words he had just welcomed. The entire surface is covered with fabric cross strokes, but in its very middle - vertical dotted line, reminiscent of conventional image of the spine. In the bottom picture is an inscription written by a template: the letters that make up the title of the painting, mixed in with letters behalf dancer. This method Jones used quite often, so that the viewer can not read the inscription, but managed to guess it.

«I created [this picture] for Mercy, because then the thought of him -" Jones said in an interview with New York Times. - I do not remember if there was any special occasion or just because I'm her written and presented to him. Someone from the studio Meurs told me that I brought to work, put it against the wall and said, "Do not touch it, paint is not dry. But I have already forgotten ».

Experts Christie's estimated now "Dancers on a plane" in 1,5-2 million dollars. Knowing the previous auction results of Jones (one of his paintings sold for as much as 80 million!), You would think that this estimate is very conservative. But Laura Paulson (Laura Paulson), Director of Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's, said that the low estimate given specifically in order to attract more collectors.

Jones worked on productions Cunningham from 1967 to 1980. He made friends with a choreographer until his death.

Another famous artist who collaborated with Cunningham and Cage, - Robert Rauschenberg. At Christie's auction will be brought to his black painting «№ 1". Its estimate - 0,8-1,2 million dollars.

history of this fabric is very amusing. Originally canvas adorned composition Rauschenberg's wife, Sue Vail (Sue Weil). But the only thing that remained of her work - is the signature on the back. According to the curator Workshop Rauschenberg David White (David White), no one knows that portrayed the artist. Nothing is known about how the track looked that Rauschenberg has written over the creation of Vail. In 1951 the painting was displayed at the Betty Parsons Gallery (Betty Parsons), and after a few years Rauschenberg gave it to Cage.

This was once home to the artists came exterminator - to destroy the bugs. Rauschenberg decided to go to sleep to the Cage. At that time he worked on a series of black paintings, and in gratitude for the hospitality "blackened" now «№ 1". In 1985 he decided to restore the historic fabric, and Rauschenberg once covered it with black paint. He returned the painting, along with a letter which said: "This is part of the history of one individual picture - I hope that this dialogue will continue for many more years. Personally, I'm going to [continue to take it up], if John agrees to take such a risk. With love, Bob Rauschenberg ».

Another piece Rauschenberg created specifically for Cage - graphic work depicting watches and dials. It is the inscription "To John K." Figure estimated at 100-150 thousand.

«Bob gave it to John in 1964 or 1965, after he had read him a lecture about the importance of time, - says David White. - Bob's always late, and John scolded him».

Among the works from the collection of Cage and Cunningham - drawing in black and white, made in 1953 by Philip Gaston (Philip Guston). It can see a lot of motivation, creativity characteristic of the famous abstract expressionist. Estimate drawing - 150-200 thousand dollars.

Neither Cunningham nor Cage did not relate to his collection as something very valuable. Kang, Laura (Laura Kunh), Trustee of the Fund Cunningham and Cage's head of the foundation, told how in 1988, their accountant asked about insurance. Upon learning that they have no insurance and there is no trace, he was amazed: "And what would happen if a fire, and [all of your works of art] will be destroyed?" What Cunningham said: "Our friends will write us new».

Material prepared Yulia Maximova, AI

Source: nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru