CONTEMPORARY ART 4
‘Untitled (ELMAR)’ by Jean-Michel Basquiat Set to Make Auction History
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (ELMAR) 1982. Photo: Jean Bourbon. Courtesy Phillips
BY SEAN LEYWES
NEW YORK-NY.,-Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (ELMAR) stands as a monumental testament to the artist’s prowess, a significant piece from his 1982 collection. This masterpiece, currently in the collection of anthropologist Francesco Pellizzi, will go on auction at the Phillips Auction House in New York. It has an estimated value ranging from $40 to $60 million.
Untitled (ELMAR) is a sprawling canvas, nearly eight feet wide, showcasing Basquiat’s unique artistic vision. Rich in symbolism and self-referential imagery, the painting depicts a modern-day Icarus on the brink of descent. He is targeted by an archer releasing two arrows toward him.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Symbolism and Powerful Imagery
One side of the canvas features a figure reminiscent of a “fallen angel,” with a bird-like shape and a crown of thorns. It symbolizes both a halo and vulnerability. This celestial figure hovers over a vibrant expanse of scribbled waves, resembling a luminous blue sea. The text “ELMAR” grounds the scene, suggesting a narrative akin to the mythical story of Icarus.
In contrast, on the opposite side of the canvas, a radiant archer takes aim, also crowned like his celestial counterpart, shooting two arrows with clear intent. This contrast of the divine and the earthly, the spiritual and the grounded, reveals Basquiat’s exploration of duality within his own persona.
Untitled (ELMAR) has a rich history, having appeared in significant exhibitions. It was in a 1989 exhibition on Pellizzi’s collection at the Hofstra Museum in New York. The painting was also in a commemorative exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of Basquiat’s passing at Gagosian Los Angeles in 1998. Furthermore, it was part of the artist’s retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris in 2018.
With an estimated value of $40 to $60 million, Untitled (ELMAR) is a testament to Basquiat’s creative zenith. This masterpiece will no doubt captivate collectors and enthusiasts alike at the auction. It will also reaffirm Basquiat’s legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Surreal Ceramics and Sculptures By Anastassia Zamaraeva Convey Painful Narratives
Anastassia Zamaraeva, Dinnies (Hungry and ready to eat.) 2022, one of the surreal ceramics and sculptures by Anastassia Zamaraeva. Photo: Artist
BY KAZEEM ADELEKE
My first introduction to Anastassia Zamaraeva’s artwork occurred on Instagram. The initial piece that caught my eye was a white sculpture depicting a woman seated on the floor, her hands and legs folded, head bowed in what seemed like resignation or demoralization. Clutched in her hand is a black glob. Before even glancing at the title of the piece, I found myself pondering its significance. “What does the clump represent?” I wondered. “Is it symbolic of the woman’s pain? Why does she seem passive, not attempting to contain the glob that appears to be oozing uncontrollably?”
This is the essence of Zamaraeva’s artistry. Her surreal ceramics and sculptures prompt viewers to delve into their own experiences and seek meaning. The sculpture, titled The Thing I Can’t Contain (2022), invites contemplation about how we handle things beyond our control. Do we resign ourselves, like the sculpture, and allow problems (glob) to overwhelm us?
Delving into the pain depicted in the white sculpture becomes even more poignant when the artist’s context is revealed. Zamaraeva added to the title, “A rumination on my experience with endometriosis.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing severe pelvic pain and fertility issues.
Expressing Human Experiences Through Surreal Ceramics
The Thing I Can’t Contain is just one of the sculptures through which the artist explores the human experience. Another notable piece is Dinnies (2022), featuring a nude figure hunched over an empty plate, fork, and knife in hand, with purple rings around her eyes suggesting starvation. The viewer is left to speculate about the woman’s story, but her hunger is unmistakable. As Zamaraeva states, “Hungry and ready to eat.” Yet, the absence of food raises questions.
Surrender (2022) is another piece that reflects the artist’s journey. It depicts a woman crouched over, seemingly in supplication or surrender. The sculpture embodies a powerful acceptance of life’s challenges. Zamaraeva explains, “I made this piece when a lot of things had been feeling difficult. At that point, I’d come to realize that much of the difficulty was my own resistance and expectation that things should be easier. So this piece is the opposite of that resistance. It’s surrender. Accepting the challenging things as an intrinsic part of life and riding the waves.”
Dreams, Teeth, and the Quest for a Cure
In I Dream of Teeth (2022), Zamaraeva’s ceramic sculpture portrays a woman with her head bent, and a hole in her stomach from which teeth are falling out. This piece explores how real-life experiences translate into dreams. Zamaraeva shares, “I had a laparoscopic surgery where an incision was made through my belly button. For a year, I continued to have issues with the incision site. One night I dreamed that I pulled a horse tooth out of my belly button and that it resolved the problem. This piece is an exploration of that dream and the real experience.”
Zamaraeva’s ceramic sculptures, while surreal, poignantly communicate themes of myth, love, life, the environment, and death. Her series on slugs is particularly intriguing, born out of her struggle working with porcelain. When the medium limited her to creating sausage shapes, she innovated by adding antennae, transforming them into slugs that touch upon our “shadow aspects” and evoke strong emotional responses.
Her artistic process begins with sketching out ideas before bringing them to life in three dimensions using grog, a type of clay that gives her pieces a coarser texture and resilience against cracks. This choice of medium allows her to create a diverse range of subjects, from human figures and body parts to trees, plants, and mollusks.
About Anastassia Zamaraeva
A UK-based ceramic artist, Anastassia Zamaraeva, discovered her passion for clay at a young age in Canada. Although she initially pursued a BA in Architecture and worked in the field, her love for ceramics remained steadfast. In 2018, she decided to return to ceramics, completing an MA in Art Psychotherapy, which has profoundly influenced her work. Her art now melds art and therapy, exploring the complexities of human existence with themes of melancholy, discomfort, and humor.
Her work has been featured in prestigious exhibitions, including the Winter Exhibition at Thrown Contemporary Online and the London Potters Members Exhibition at Morley Gallery in London in 2023, as well as “Uncommon Beauty: Objects of Curiosity and Wonder” at Craft in the Bay in Cardiff. Most recently, her ceramic sculptures were displayed at the Open Wide III exhibition at Open 205 in Deptford, London. In April, she will be showcasing her pieces in the group exhibition “Festoon” at Underbank Studios in Stockport, England.
Anastassia Zamaraeva’s artistic journey is one of passion, dedication, and evolution. Her unique approach to ceramics, influenced by her background in architecture and art therapy, sets her apart in the world of contemporary art. Through her work, she invites us to explore our own experiences and emotions, making her a truly remarkable artist. You can see more of the artist’s work on her website and Instagram.
Ruminating Endometriosis: Pain and Fertility Issues
Surrender to Creative Energy: The Power of Surreal Ceramics
A celebration of human connection and breaking bread together.
What do you think about Anastassia Zamaraeva’s surreal ceramics and sculptures? Share your thoughts.
Modern Art History Examined Through Five New Installations
Jackson Pollock’s Number 10, 1949 (detail), 1949, is one of the paintings examining modern art history at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
BOSTON — Five installations focused on the forerunner of Modern art in the 20th century are the major attractions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA). Titled Making Modern in the 20th century, the installations represent moments in the evolution of Modern Art in North America. They follow the progression of modern art from Mexico City to New York and Boston.
Investigating Modern Art History
The installations investigate the development of modern art and modern artists in the Americas. On display are works by Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, Max Beckmann, Karl Zerbe Pablo Picasso and several other important artists of the 20th century.
Many of the artists whose works are on display drew influences from different sources, including contemporaries, teachers, rivals, and friends. The cross-fertilization of ideas inspired the 20th-century painters who evolved in their artistic practice.
Kahlo and Her Circle
One of the installations is titled Kahlo and Her Circle: A Close Look at Frida Kahlo’s Dos Mujeres, and her Circle of Family and Friends. It examines how Kahlo and her friends in Mexico City impacted modern art. Another installation is titled Pollock/Picasso: The Artistic Dialogue of Two Titans of Modern Art. The installation brings together works by these famous artists of modern art history. The installation reveals how Picasso laid the foundation for Modern art, and how Pollock extended it.
The Lane Collection: Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Dove located in the central gallery provides insight into five friends in art. Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, and Stuart Davis can be described as a gang of five. From the photographer Alfred Stieglitz’s circle, the artists influenced and inspired each other. The influences are obvious in their works on display.
Beckmann in America: Modern Art History
Beckmann in America examines the impact of Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe on the development of modern art in America. Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe immigrated to the United States during Hitler’s reign of terror. Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe had a great impact on Boston Expressionists. Zerbe and their students, including David Aaronson, went on to establish the Fine Art Department at Boston University.
In the Melvin Blake and Frank Purnell gallery is Hofmann and the Next Generation. The installation examines the impact of education on mid-century abstract artists. On display are works by Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, David Smith, David Smith, and Peter Voulkos.
Five installations at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston bring new focus to the forerunner of Modern art history and artists of the 20th century. Who is your favorite 20th-century artist? Share your thoughts. Leave a comment
Street Art Auction: Banksy Shines at Julian’s Art Sale
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–Julian’s Auctions recent street art sale brought together an amazing collection of Banksy artworks. The auction which realized more than $1.3 million in the sale also included artworks by other important street artists and contemporary art. Included in the street art and contemporary art auction were works by Shepard Fairey, RETNA, Damien Hirst, Alec Monopoly, KAI, DOC, Gregory Siff, Ben Eine, Rene Gagnon, Zevs, D*Face, Faile, Kaws, Ludo, Dolk, Saber, Nick Walker, and Mar.
Banksy Shines Street Art Sale
Although works by many of the street artists made a significant impact at the auction, Banksy artworks put collectors on the edge of their seats at the auction. One of his artworks that captivated collectors was Happy Coopers. The 2002 aerosol stencil depicts a squadron of choppers in a tactical attack formation. On the lead chopper is a pink bow. The work borders on the interplay of femininity and masculinity. A bundle of contradictions, the artwork questions the motive of the helicopters in a way that plays on both sides of war and peace. The artwork was created on the board originally used to prevent the public from accessing a construction site in London at the Whitecross Street Market in 2002. It sold for $140,800.
Banksy Untitled (DJ & Crane) 1999, sold for $128, 000 at Julian’s Street Art Auction
Other Banksy art sold at the Street Art Auction:
Heart Boy which sold for $125,000
Toxic Mary (2004) sold for $12,800.
Bomb Love, a Screenprint on paper, depicting a young girl in a black dress tenderly clutching a bomb as if it were a teddy bear sold for $35,200.
NOLA (2009) sold for $41,600.
You must be logged in to post a comment.