Inka Essenhigh

Victoria Miro, London
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

London, Victoria Miro Gallery, Inka Essenhigh, 2002
London, The Royal Academy of Arts, USA Today: New American Art from The Saatchi Gallery, 2006

Exhibition Catalogue, London, Saatchi Gallery, Triumph of Painting, 2005-2006, no. 47, illustrated in colour
Exhibition Catalogue, London, Saatchi Gallery, Abstract America, 2008, pp. 232-233, illustrated in colour

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is deeper and richer in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultra-violet light.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Inka Essenhigh's paintings are executed with a sublime slickness and intricacy. Her work has a beguiling appeal, combining both abstraction and representation, but committing to nothing more than visual intrigue. Essenhigh's pieces whimsically play with graphics and images from a vast range of contemporary references, such as cartoons, mythology, wrestling and nature. Here, in WWF, the god-like protagonists tear and wrestle with their surroundings in an explosion of violence and sexuality, the figures flying in a vast mythical landscape. Essenhigh's highly finished surface, rich colour scheme and overall bejewelled shimmering wooden surface, draws comparisons with Asian lacquer-wear, however futuristic her approach. In WWF, Essenhigh creates a fantastical narrative, continuously playing and pushing the boundaries of such a traditional form of medium.