Enzo Cucchi - Contemporary Art London Thursday, June 21, 2007 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Provenance

    Quintana Fine Art USA Ltd., New York

  • Catalogue Essay

    Representation is the last thing that matters. It is no coincidence that we start at the end, because we have already arrived at the finish line. Categories have lost their meaning today. But what is representation? It’s a beautiful sign, particularly when it comes from the imagination. The whole art world, the world of auctions, artists, gallery owners and art critics are all at the finish line, and all together they push for action, to make a spiritual outpost. All at the front line: that’s what representation is. This is the real matter; should it be where we all aspire to be? It is all inside, yet bundled. These are bowels of existence, a body that is absolutely shapeless, homogeneous, that’s true, but it’s full of veins! If we look at its consistency, the evenness of this disaster… what now? What are we going to do? First we flatten it, now we’re tempted to cut it into pieces, to analyze it. Representation is important, if your aim is to reach a sense of wonder. Thousands of people emigrating from one place to another in an immense tragedy. But what can be done? Should I set about depicting the entire event? It is a human mass, a pyramid on the move. But today it is like a sculpture. This is the material that we have to work with. We must retain our role, to find the meaning. Enzu Cucchi, taken from E. Coen, Enzo Cucchi Salute, NewYork/Zurich,
    2006, n.p.

51

L’Albero Santo (The Holy Tree)

1980
Oil on canvas.
76 1/2 x 80 1/2 in. (194.3 x 204.5 cm).
Signed titled and dated “1980 Enzo Cucchi L’Albero Santo 1980” on the reverse.

Estimate
£300,000 - 400,000 ‡♠

Sold for £333,600

Contemporary Art

22 June 2007, 4pm & 5pm
London