- 236
Robert Indiana
Description
- Robert Indiana
- Zero
- stamped with the artist's name, dated 1980-2001 and numbered 5/6 on the underside
- painted aluminum
- 196 by 188 by 96cm.; 77 1/8 by 74 by 37 3/4 in.
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Literature
Simon Salama-Caro et al., Robert Indiana, New York 2006, p. 179, illustration of another example in colour
Condition
"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."
Catalogue Note
"Nowhere better can we appreciate Indiana's aesthetic achievement in his mature numbers series than by looking at the influence and effect of his typography on contemporary design and sign making." Simon Salama-Caro et al., Robert Indiana, New York 2006, p. 163
Robert Indiana has forever been absorbed in the importance of the sign within American history, and its ability to encapsulate intangible meanings, desires and emotions through a reduced language of bold accessible letters and numbers. What distinguishes Indiana from his contemporaries is the depth of his personal engagement with his subject matter.
Beginning in 1980, Indiana worked on a large-scale series of numbers. Using a range of hues, Indiana aspired to evoke life's evolving stages through these impressively oversized sculptures. Whilst other numbers combine vibrant bold colours reminiscent of the changing seasons, emotions and time, Zero presents the viewer with an absence of colour suggestive of purity and nihilism. The eternal oval shape achieves a perfect balanced rhythm that encourages the viewer to interact with its positive and negative spaces. Executed on a monumental scale, Zero is elevated from a simple number to a captivating and powerful symbol, indicative of transition and new beginnings, continuous themes in contemporary America.