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Catalogue Essay
“I think we all laugh at misery. We must start from the idea that when we laugh, we laugh at someone or something. With empathy or not, there is always some degree of cruelty. In spite of that, I am aware that if one of my cartoons happened in real life I would not laugh at all.” —— Joan Cornellà
Internet sensation Joan Cornellà Vázquez, or better known by his first two names, was born in Barcelona in 1981. Known for his comic strips and artworks that are full of satire, Cornellà rose to fame via his colourful 6-panel comic strips originating as Facebook posts. With a simplistic visual language, bold outlines and the same, stoic facial expressions on every character in his works, Cornellà contrasts a bright colour palette with dark humour. Without any dialogue, the images speak for themselves through simple visual cues.
Installation view of the current work at Taipei Huashan 1914 Creative Park, 2019 With a fixed gaze and stiff smiles, the characters in Cornellà's works are permanently set in their complacent delight of the suffering of others, or sometimes, even themselves. His unique and absurd portrayal of these surreal situations pokes fun at traditionally prohibited subjects with gory scenes of amputation, cannibalism, abortion, and suicide — no subject is off limits.
However, what transforms Cornellà's art from macabre to dark humor is the vein of humanity that runs through it. In the current work, a little girl looks to her father to help fix the broken record player. Desperate to help, the father uses his own fingers as a plug to connect the record player to the electrical socket, shocking himself as electricity runs through his body, with smoke and blood gushing out of his head. Though evidently in a lot of pain, the father still has the plastered smile ubiquitous on all of Cornellà's characters. Oblivious to the damage this is causing others, the little girl joyously breaks into song and dance, happily enjoying her music with the same stiff smile.
Animated version of the current work, RECCO
The present work was made into a 6-panel comic and short animation, expanding the story of the work. Furthermore, the artist posted the comic with the caption “Happy Father’s Day” on Instagram on the day in 2019, adding a final comedic touch.
Left: The Artist's Instagram on Father's Day, 16 June 2019
Right: Comic strip version of the current work shown on the Artist’s instagram and in his book, SOTRevelling in absurdity and impropriety, the myriad of unconventional situations in Cornellà's creative universe elicits an uncomfortable reaction at first, but gives way to a guilty smirk and laughter, recalling the quirky series Happy Tree Friends which is also rooted in dark humour. These simple stories deliberately provoke the public and awaken feelings that help us recognise our limits; but most importantly, call out the hypocrisy, inequality and cruelty that is prevalent in our society.
Joan Cornellà lives and works in Barcelona. His works have been on view across the globe in Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, New York and London. In September 2016, Cornellà designed the album cover for Chicago-based alternative band Wilco, Schmilco, which was also a modified version of the present work.
Wilco's Schmilco, cover design by Joan Cornellà Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Exhibited
Taipei, Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Joan Cornellà: A Solo Exhibition, 25 November - 11 December 2016
2
Untitled #1
signed 'Joan Cornellà' lower left
acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm. (39 3/8 x 39 3/8 in.)
Painted in 2016.
Estimate
HK$200,000 - 400,000
€21,800-43,600
$25,600-51,300
Sold for HK$1,008,000
Hin Hin Wong
Associate Specialist, 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2013
hinhinwong@phillips.com
24/7: Online Auction
Online Auction 21 - 30 July 2021
1
Yukimasa Ida
End of today - 12/12 2018 Self Portrait -
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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2
Joan Cornellà
Untitled #1
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$1,008,000
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3
Matías Sánchez
Parodia
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$201,600
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4
Edgar Plans
Hero or Villain
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$1,071,000
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5
Maria Farrar
Brioche con Gelato
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$327,600
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6
This lot is no longer available.
7
Okokume
Cosmic Girl Head
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$403,200
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8
Todd James
Chicken Fingers
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$138,600
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9
Mr.
Happy
Estimate HK$320,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$403,200
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10
Chen Yingjie
Gravity LXX
Estimate HK$75,000 - 110,000
Sold for HK$163,800
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11
Yue Minjun
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 1-28)
Estimate HK$400,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$567,000
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12
Liu Wei
Landscape No. 2
Estimate HK$600,000 - 800,000
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13
Javier Calleja
Prefacio
Estimate HK$300,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$604,800
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14
Javier Calleja
Indice
Estimate HK$300,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$441,000
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15
Javier Calleja
Hi
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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16
Jonas Wood
Dad's Study 2
Estimate HK$280,000 - 350,000
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17
KAWS
SEEING
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
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18
Takashi Murakami & Virgil Abloh
Flower Belt
Estimate HK$350,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$1,008,000
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19
Banksy
CND Soldiers
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$378,000
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20
Kenny Scharf
Krazy
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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21
Invader
TK-64
Estimate HK$220,000 - 320,000
Sold for HK$819,000
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22
This lot is no longer available.
23
KAWS
PIRANHAS WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$277,200
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24
MADSAKI
Homage to Takashi Murakami Flowers
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$630,000
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25
Mr Doodle
Schoolyard Scrap
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$302,400
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26
Chiharu Shiota
State of Being (Children's Shoes)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$504,000
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27
Kohei Nawa
PixCell-Maria #16
Estimate HK$380,000 - 550,000
Sold for HK$504,000
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28
Damien Hirst
Mickey (Blue Glitter)
Estimate HK$250,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$315,000
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29
KAWS
ANKLE BRACELET
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$277,200
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30
Ayako Rokkaku
Hayaumare March
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$163,800
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31
Xu Qu
Currency War - Morocco 20 (Old)
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$138,600
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32
Zhao Zhao
Sky No. 13
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$214,200
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33
Ayako Rokkaku
"Magic Hand" Exhibition Carpet
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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34
Gerhard Richter
Cage (P19-2)
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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35
Gerhard Richter
Cage (P19-5)
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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36
Yoshitomo Nara
Mori Girl
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000
Sold for HK$378,000
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