Edgar Plans - New Now & Design Hong Kong Sunday, November 26, 2023 | Phillips

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  • “A Canvas is never white in the eyes of an artist, it’s the mirror of their ideas.”
     — Edgar Plans

     

    Leccíon de Anatomia (Anatomy Lesson) by Edgar Plans, painted on a black canvas, features a playful take on an anatomical lesson. The central figure is a simple, white-lined drawing of a skeletal form labelled ‘ANATOMIA’, bearing resemblance to the sketches found on classroom blackboards. Surrounding it are various whimsical elements: a skull, hand, and bike, all drawn with a child-like simplicity. The border of the canvas is adorned with colourful, candy-like dots that add a playful frame to the composition, reminiscent of the colourful and expressive nature of Plans' ‘Animal Heroes’ series. Departing from his typical cartoon protagonists however, this work evokes the artist's connection to the freedom of street art and urban creativity, blending education with a light-hearted, illustrative style.

     

     

    Plans’ multidisciplinary works are heavily influenced by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Takashi Murakami. In particular, the current lot shares similarities with Basquiat's practice. Its use of a black background draws attention to the use of colour, and the raw, graffiti-like execution of drawings recall Basquiat's street-art origins. The skeletal form is also a direct nod to Basquiat's frequent use of anatomical diagrams and skeletal figures, while the use of words and symbols scattered across the canvas, along with the seemingly random placement of objects, echoes Basquiat's complex, symbol-laden compositions. Both artists incorporate elements of social commentary and personal symbolism, often with a child-like simplicity and an element of depth beneath the surface.

     

    One of the most popular Spanish contemporary artists, Edgar Plans was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1977. Currently based in the northern Spanish town of Gijon, he earned a degree in History of Art from the University of Oviedo. His journey into art began early in life, influenced by an environment where creativity and the arts were encouraged. Plans recalls painting and drawing with pencils and crayons on any surface he could find, including walls and pavements near his childhood home in Majadahonda. Represented by Villazan, some of his most recent solo exhibitions in 2023 include My daily news at Booth Diario El Pais in Arco, Madrid, I am a dreamer at Xiao Contemporary Art Museum in Rizhao, China, and Recent works, Solo project at Booth Villazan Gallery in Art Central, Hong Kong.

    • Provenance

      Private Collection
      Acquired from the above by the present owner

82

Leccíon de Anatomia (Anatomy Lesson)

signed 'Plans' lower left
oil on canvas
82 x 66.5 cm. (32 1/4 x 26 1/8 in.)
Painted in 2018.

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
HK$200,000 - 300,000 
€23,600-35,500
$25,600-38,500

Sold for HK$304,800

Contact Specialist

Angela Tian
Associate Specialist, Head of New Now & Design Sale
20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2058
AngelaTian@phillips.com

New Now & Design

Hong Kong Auction 26 November 2023