Lot 184
  • 184

Tala Madani

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Tala Madani
  • Tower Reflection
  • oil on canvas
  • 183 by 396 cm. 72 by 155 7/8 in.
  • Executed in 2006.

Provenance

Lombard Freid, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2007

Exhibited

Lombard-Freid Projects, New York, Smoke and Mirrors, February - April 2007
Saatchi Gallery, London, Unveiled: New Art From The Middle East, January - May 2009, n.p., illustrated in colour

Condition

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is slightly more saturated in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. Close inspection reveals evidence of handling towards the extreme outer edges. Extremely close inspection reveals very thin and unobtrusive hairline cracks towards the center of the right facing edge. There are a few very faint rubmarks scattered in places, all of which are likely to be original. No restoration is apparent when examined under ultraviolet 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."

Catalogue Note

The greater the scale of Madani’s paintings, the greater the degree of abstraction she achieves. In sharp contrast to her smaller paintings, which are perhaps richer in detail, larger scale pieces such as Tower Reflection reduce the artist’s narrative to a few brushstrokes. In this case, the dominant narrative is one of unease and fear. The predominant colour of Tower Reflection, emergency orange, manifests in rough square shapes reminiscent of an aeroplane or theatre seating. The spectacle is focalised through two rectangular ‘windows’, creating an effect of one narrative passing through the other: a physical disaster, a spiritual conflict, or the metamorphosis of horror into instant replay media.