The jury is still out on whether 2019 has been a good year for art. If you are a connoisseur, here’s a quiz to check if you are in step with the key moments when billionaires acquired these masterpieces at auctions.
In 1964 in New York, Robert Rauschenberg finalised ‘Buffalo II’, one of the largest in his celebrated series of silkscreen paintings that captured the social, political and artistic zeitgeist of the decade. It is believed that this monumental work was snapped up by none other than Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, at the Christie’s auction. Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $80.8 million
b) $85.8 million
c) $88.8 million
d) $90.8 million
In 1964 in New York, Robert Rauschenberg finalised ‘Buffalo II’, one of the largest in his celebrated series of silkscreen paintings that captured the social, political and artistic zeitgeist of the decade.
‘Devolved Parliament’ by Banksy
For the second year in a row, Banksy dominated the Sotheby’s Frieze Week evening sale of contemporary art in London. This time, without the drama of ‘shredding’. Art enthusiasts would recall the sale of the painting, ‘Girl with Balloon’ by the street artist last year. As soon as the gavel fell on that sale, a built-in shredder got activated and the work went in self-destruct mode. No such drama with the sale of this artwork, except the one related to high pricing.
Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $12 million
b) $14 million
c) $16 million
d) $18 million
For the second year in a row, Banksy dominated the Sotheby’s Frieze Week evening sale of contemporary art in London.
Political unrest wasn’t the only reason why Hong Kong made news this year. Sale of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s painting at a Sotheby’s auction in the country also contributed to the headlines. This painting was executed in the watershed year of 2000 in Nara’s oeuvre. It was the year he finally returned to Japan after 12 years in Germany.
Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $20 million
b) $22 million
c) $23 million
d) $25 million
This painting was executed in the watershed year of 2000 in Nara’s oeuvre.
A new world record for this French impressionist painter only reiterates his enduring popularity. A part of the artist’s famed Haystacks series, with its unique perspective, dynamic composition, and vibrant paint palette, Meules is considered a classic piece within the series. This was the first time the work had come to auction since 1986. In just eight minutes, six bidders fought fervently for the masterpiece.
Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $110.7 million
b) $111.7 million
c) $112.7 million
d) $114.7 million
A new world record for this French impressionist painter only reiterates his enduring popularity.
‘Hurting the Word Radio #2’ by Ed Ruscha
This one is an early example of American painter Ruscha’s text paintings. The artist has, in fact, been credited with having invented an entire genre: Paintings consisting solely of text, either single words or phrases. The painting’s sale set a new record for the artist this year and served as a rejoinder for art market pessimists. Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $51.5 million
b) $52.5 million
c) $54.8 million
d) $55.5 million
The artist has, in fact, been credited with having invented an entire genre: Paintings consisting solely of text, either single words or phrases.
Bidding for this three-foot tall stainless steel sculpture, reminiscent of a silver balloon animal, was a perfect chance to own a piece by an artist, who has a penchant for courting controversy. Clue for this one: The sale price of ‘Rabbit’ ensured that the work is now officially the world’s most expensive work by a living artist. It surpassed a previous record set by painter David Hockney’s ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ for this honour.
Do you know how much it sold for?
a) $81 million
b) $85.1 million
c) $91 million
d) $95.1 million.
It surpassed a previous record set by painter David Hockney’s ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ for this honour.
Answers
Buffalo II by Robert Rauschenberg
Correct answer: c) $88.8 million
Devolved Parliament by Banksy
Correct answer: a) $12 million
Knife Behind Back by Yoshitomo Nara
Correct answer: d) $25 million
Meules by Claude Monet
Correct answer: a) $110.7 million
Hurting the Word Radio #2 by Ed Ruscha
Correct answer: b) $52.5 million
Rabbit by Jeff Koons
Correct answer: c) $91 million
From Rare Pokemon Cards To Empty Frames, Bizarre Pieces Of Artwork That Were Sold For Milli…
Banana + Duct Tape = Magic!
9 Dec, 2019
An artwork called ‘Comedian’ created by an Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which was recently sold for a whopping $121,000 (approximately Rs. 86.07 lakhs), has become the talk of the town. The artwork, to everyone’s surprise, was a mere banana held against the wall using a duct tape. The rather puzzling piece of art being sold for such a massive amount, left the netizens scratching their heads in amazement. Things took a rather dramatic turn when performance artist David Datuna ended up taking the banana off the wall and eating it while the artwork was on display at an international gallery, Perrotin, at Art Basel in Miami. However, the banana-duct tape ensemble is not the only bizarre piece of artwork that has made a massive amount of money. Several ridiculous and weird pieces of artwork have been sold for millions of dollars in the last decade. Here are some of them.
No More Red Flags
9 Dec, 2019
It is a popular saying that when you look at the world through rose-tinted glasses, you might end up missing out on some red flags. Gerhard Richter, a German visual artist, created a unique piece of artwork, which was essentially a mirror, painted in red. In October 2012, Richter’s Abstraktes Bild set an auction record price for a painting by a living artist at £21m ($34m, approximately Rs, 3.4 crores). This was exceeded in May 2013 when his 1968 piece Domplatz, Mailand (Cathedral square, Milan) sold for $37.1 million (£24.4 million, approximately Rs. 2.44 crores) in New York.Seems like Richter wanted to paint the town red, after all!
Gotta Catch ‘Em All!
9 Dec, 2019
Pokemon is the global phenomenon that has taken the world by storm and back in the previous decade, several people were fond of collecting Pokemon cards and tazos. However, there was one sought-after, coveted card which was sold at an auction for $224,500 (approximately Rs. 1.59 crores) according to gaming news site, Kotaku.What’s so special about the card, you ask? The card was special because it was handed out as a prize in the competitions in the year 1998. Only 39 of these cards were made, making them very rare.
Home, Sweet Home?
9 Dec, 2019
Being away from home for long durations can be quite a daunting feeling. To cure us of overpowering feelings of homesickness, British artist Tracey Emin came up with an artwork called ‘My Bed’ in 1998. ‘My Bed’, consisted of Emin’s bed full of soiled bedsheets stained with bodily secretions, condoms, knickers with menstrual blood stains and everyday objects like slippers. ‘My Bed’ was bought by Charles Saatchi for £150,000 (approximately Rs. 1.4 crore) and displayed as part of the first exhibition when the Saatchi Gallery opened its new premises at County Hall, London.
Art Or Feces?
9 Dec, 2019
If you feel bizarre pieces of Modern Art were a rarity in the 20th Century, you’re wrong. In 1961, an Italian artist Piero Manzoni, created a piece of art that raised several eyebrows. Called, ‘Artist’s Shit’, the artwork by Manzoni consists of 90 tin cans filled with feces.Each can weighs around 30 grams. The most bizarre and confusing fact about ‘Artist’s Shit’, is that a single tin of the ‘artwork’ was sold for €124,000 (approximately Rs. 97.57 lakhs) on Sotheby, one of the largest brokers of fine and decorative art on May 23, 2007.Another can was sold in October 2008 for £97,250 (approximately Rs. 91.12 lakhs). Needless to say, the buyers spent a humongous amount on..err…a piece of crap.
