Zaha Hadid - 20th Century & Contemporary Art New York Tuesday, July 18, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Z-stream, 2008, reflects Zaha Hadid’s signature concepts of flow and curved lines in interior design. Its metallic color, fluid form and smooth surface contribute to its iconic and futuristic appearance influenced by natural phenomena such as glacial melt, flowing water, and wind. The sculpted form circles around the central staircase before spinning down a long slide, giving the work an overall impression of speed and movement. Strength and durability were important features when designing this project to allow visitors to safely climb and slide on it. The combined practical and aesthetic functions of Z-stream demonstrate Hadid’s ability to blur borders between sculpture and design, a talent that won her the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 2004.

     

    Hadid’s creations are characterized by a distinct sense of speed and flight, often expressed through horizontal lines and ground-level dynamics. Alongside her architectural work, Hadid also created limited collections of interior designs including the Z-scape furniture (2000), the Z-play domestic sofas (2002), and the Ice Storm domestic landscape (2003) among others. Hadid’s sculptural designs, Z-stream included, bear a resemblance to the captivating ground-hugging figures of Henry Moore. As demonstrated by Z-stream, Hadid sets her creation close to the ground, embracing the landscape surrounding it.

     

    Showcased for the first time at the exhibition Reconstruction #3, Artists Playground at Sudeley Castle, sponsored by Phillips, this sculpture illustrates Hadid’s vision of play and enjoyment in an outdoor setting. The core idea of this exhibition was to craft a spectacular recreational environment for visitors in the garden of the castle. Z-stream demonstrates Hadid's determination to surprise her public and constantly question the codified use of an object. In this context, Z-stream, as sculpture and playground in one, captures visitors’ attention by its form in motion and its slide feature. This sculpture encapsulates the essence of Hadid's design philosophy, combining beauty, movement, curves, and originality.

    • Provenance

      Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe
      Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2009

    • Exhibited

      Winchcombe, Sudeley Castle, Artist's Playground, May 21–October 31, 2008 (another example exhibited)

    • Literature

      Laura K. Jones, “London Dispatch,” Artnet Magazine, July 28, 2008, online (another example illustrated)
      Harriet Lloyd Smith, “Artists’ Playground, Sudeley Castle,” Wallpaper, Summer 2008, online
      Sam Jones “Sudeley hosts outdoor sculpture show,” The Guardian, June 2, 2008, online
      “Zaha Hadid shows $344k Slide,” The New York Sun, May 8, 2008, online
      Zaha Hadid, exh. cat., Palazzo della Ragione, Padova, 2009, p. 56
      Philip Jodidio, Zaha Hadid. Zaha Hadid Architects: Complete Works 1979–Today, Hohenzollernring, 2020, p. 655 (another example illustrated)

Property from a Prominent Collection

73

Z-stream

fiberglass, rubber and steel-reinforced milled polystyrene
75 1/2 x 149 1/2 x 391 in. (191.8 x 379.7 x 993.1 cm)
Executed in 2008, this work is number 1 from an edition of 8 plus 2 artist's proofs and 2 prototypes, of which only 1 was realized.

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
$100,000 - 150,000 

Sold for $127,000

Contact Specialist

Nina Piro
Specialist, Associate Vice President
npiro@phillips.com
646-647-5387

20th Century & Contemporary Art

New York Auction 18 July 2023