Phillips, in association with Art Partner, announces
MERT & MARCUS
Works 2001-2014
The First Major Exhibition of the dynamic artist duo Mert & Marcus
LONDON: 24 October to 3 November, 2016
PARIS: 9 to 16 November, 2016
LONDON – 4 AUGUST 2016 – This autumn, in collaboration with Art Partner, Phillips presents the selling exhibition Mert & Marcus: Works 2001-2014 – the first major solo show of celebrated photographers Mert Alaş and Marcus Piggott (Turkish, b. 1971 and Welsh, b. 1971), known as Mert & Marcus. This year marks the 20th anniversary of their collaboration and to celebrate Mert & Marcus have selected 18 works – 9 black-and-white and 9 colour – to be made available for sale for the first time. The landmark exhibition Mert & Marcus: Works 2001-2014 will go on display at Phillips’ London headquarters in Mayfair from 24 October to 3 November 2016, before travelling to Phillips’ Gallery in Saint Germain, Paris, from 9 to 16 November 2016, alongside the international art fair Paris Photo. In addition, four unique-sized one-off works will be offered in the Photographs auction at Phillips London on 3 November 2016.
Two of the most iconic photographers working today, this creative duo met in 1994 in London amid the 90s London club scene and their shared love of art and photography quickly evolved into a working partnership. Their first success as a collaborative duo came in 1997 when they landed the coveted cover of Dazed & Confused and since then, their distinctive and powerful images have been featured globally in magazines, including Interview, LOVE, Vanity Fair, Vogue and W, as well as in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Gucci, Lancôme, Louis Vuitton, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including the V&A, London; the National Portrait Gallery, London; and the New York Public Library. Visionaries and creators, Mert & Marcus have made unique contributions to the arts and continue to push the boundaries of visual language in their work.
Genevieve Janvrin, Head of Photographs, Europe, said, “We are delighted to be working with Art Partner to present the first major solo exhibition of Mert & Marcus. In recent years, we have seen a notable increase in recognition and demand for fashion photography and this partnership allows us to present collectors with the first opportunity to acquire works by Mert & Marcus, two of the most influential artists working in this sphere.”
Mert & Marcus, said, “Phillips’ commitment to presenting and promoting fashion photography as contemporary art made them the perfect platform for our first retrospective. We are thrilled to celebrate 20 years of working together with this exhibition.”
Giovanni Testino, Founder and CEO of Art Partner, said, “We are very proud to be working with Phillips and to be part of this collaboration, which recognises contemporary fashion photography as art, and fashion photographers as the incredible artists that they are. Mert & Marcus are at the forefront of their field and the selection for this exhibition is truly exceptional.”
Each of the 18 works in the selling exhibition is available in a sheet size of 30 x 40 inches or the reverse and in an edition of 5 with a starting price of £16,000 framed. This exclusive selection showcases their discerning and constantly evolving aesthetic and includes works previously published in Interview, LOVE, Numéro, Pirelli Calendar, Playboy, Vogue and W. Subjects include Cara Delevingne, Guinevere van Seenus, Kate Moss, Karen Elson, Lara Stone and Natalia Vodianova. Smoke, 2011 represents Mert & Marcus’ highly polished, colour-saturated and provocative aesthetic. In this image, published in LOVE, Mert & Marcus subvert the functionality of a medical contraption and create a glamourous image as the cigarette smoke blows out of the subject’s red lacquered lips. Lips, taken for the 2006 Pirelli Calendar, exemplifies the artist duo’s black-and-white imagery. Focusing on Kate Moss’s mouth, Mert & Marcus explore feminine beauty and power in this provocative and stunning photograph.
Mert & Marcus Selling Exhibition
24 October – 3 November | 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX
9 – 16 November | 46 Rue du Bac, Paris, 75007
Photographs Auction
Auction: Thursday, 3 November 2016, 2pm
Auction viewing: 28 October – 3 November | Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm
Location: 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX
ABOUT PHILLIPS:
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
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