Zhang Huan

Gallery Friedman Benda, New York
Private Collection, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Exh. Cat., New York, Asia Society and Museum, Zhang Huan: Altered States, September 2007 - January 2008, p. 23, illustrated in color

This work is in very good overall condition. The scattered cracks, abrasions and bends to the copper appear inherent to the artist's working method. There are a few spots of oxidation. There are also 2 extremely fine 1 inch abrasions located approximately 17 inches from the finger tip and 11 inches from the base of the work.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"[Antique Buddhist sculptures] had been shattered and parts stolen during the Cultural Revolution. Zhang Huan was able to purchase some of these fragments in antique markets and he was impressed with their beauty. These damaged bits of Buddha sculptures underscored the body's vulnerability in adverse social conditions in a way that was analogous to his use of his own body in performances. He began to enlarge fragments of Buddha statues that he had collected, creating them out of a skin of copper and leaving them open and perforated to emphasize a sense of their fragility." - Eleanor Heartney (Exh. Cat., Zhang Huan: Becoming the Body, New York, Asia Society and Museum, September 2007 - January 2008, p. 47)