“This kind of cerise pink I used (which according to Penguin’s colour-key, denoted the series on travel and adventure) is a colour that elicits a really strong response – it’s very immediate – like some primal flame being turned up inside.”
—Harland MillerHarland Miller’s Narcissist Seeks Similar of 2021 is a striking piece based on an earlier painting from his Penguin series. It playfully combines Pop art aesthetics with deadpan humour, using the iconic Penguin paperback format to critique the self-absorption that both pervades modern culture and is a recurring trope through art history – from Ancient Greek mythology to Caravaggio’s sixteenth century Baroque oil painting. Miller’s title phrase, Narcissist Seeks Similar, set in bold, stencilled text, references personal ads from newspapers, which Miller finds fascinating for their blend of vulnerability and vanity. As he has explained:
“This title came from a series called “Circling The Small Ads”…. these were quite literally small ads usually placed in local newspapers by people looking for some form, (often a very specific form), of companionship. My eye was always drawn to the way they were composed, with the seeker – whoever they may be – describing themselves in two or three carefully considered words, underneath which – centred and occupying its own line – was the word “Seeks”, and then of course below that was a brief description of what, or whom they were seeking.”
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Narcissus, 1597-99, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome. Image: Artexplorer / Alamy Stock Photo Fittingly, this text is presented on a bold, saturated pink background that alludes to passion and desire. As he described, “This kind of cerise pink I used (which according to Penguin’s colour-key, denoted the series on travel and adventure) is a colour that elicits a really strong response – it’s very immediate – like some primal flame being turned up inside.” The work was created through building up multiple layers of etching and relief printing, with each penguin hand-finished by the print studio, adding a unique touch to every piece. The result is a rich and vibrant print that also has the impression of distressed textures and worn edges, creating a vintage aesthetic that references literary nostalgia. Through this colourful text-based composition, Miller merges visual art and storytelling, creating a witty, engaging commentary on human connection and desire.
50
Narcissist Seeks Similar
2021
Etching and polymer relief print in colours, on Hahnemühle Copperplate paper, the full sheet.
S. 102.7 x 68.4 cm (40 3/8 x 26 7/8 in.)
Signed in pencil on the front and numbered 8/50 in pencil on the reverse (there were also 12 artist's proofs), published by Manifold Editions, London, framed.
Estimate
£10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
EditionsLondon@phillips.com
+44 20 7318 4024
Rebecca Tooby-Desmond
Specialist, Head of Sale, Editions
rtooby-desmond@phillips.com
Robert Kennan
Head of Editions, Europe
rkennan@phillips.com
Anne Schneider-Wilson
Senior International Specialist, Editions
aschneider-wilson@phillips.com
Louisa Earl
Associate Specialist, Editions
learl@phillips.com
Evening & Day Editions
London Auction 23 - 24 January 2025
59
This lot is no longer available.
