- 32
Walid Ra'ad
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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Description
- Walid Ra'ad
- Scratching on Things I Could Disavow (Parts 2-5)
- inkjet print, in four parts
- Each: 116 by 157cm.; 45 5/8 by 61 3/4 in.
- Executed in 1989, this work is number 5 from an edition of 7 plus 2 artist's proofs.
Provenance
Paula Cooper Gallery, New York
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 2008
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 2008
Exhibited
Amman, Darat Al Funun, The Khalid Shoman Foundation, Art Now In Lebanon, November 2013 - April 2014, pp. 48-53, illustrated (another example exhibited)
Condition
This work is in very good condition overall. There are some minor signs of handling marks and dust residue on the glass across the four panel frames.
The colours in the catalogue illustration are very accurate, with the white background of each work tending more towards an off white colour.
"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."
"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
Walid Ra'ad’s powerfully evocative series Scratching on Things I Could Disavow is a photographic sequence of the ammunition fired during the Lebanese Civil War. Ra’ad depicts bullets, missile shells and shrapnel pieces from various sources and gives them a background. The present work is part of a series entitled which includes video, photography and literary essays, is often concerned with the representation of traumatic events of collective historical dimensions such as the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990; and the ways film, video, and photography function as documents of physical and psychological violence.
The work depicts just one micro element of war, the ammunition itself, to help qualify the level of destruction. Ammunition signifies the physical and psychological impact of war, as it alludes to something that can create death and destruction, as well as emotional traumatization. Ra’ad’s work in this series shows one of the core goals of his artistic practice; to explore how the imagery of history itself is created. Through his work, Ra’ad is able contribute, and even alter, the larger, rich narrative of his country’s history.