Lot 80
  • 80

VAGRICH BAKHCHANYAN | Flowers

Estimate
600 - 800 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Vagrich Bakhchanyan
  • Flowers
  • collage on paper
  • Sheet: 14 by 11in., 35.5 by 28cm
  • Framed: 23 3/4 by 19 1/2 in., 60 by 49.5cm
signed in Cyrillic and dated '1969' l.m.collage on paperBakhchanyan grew up in Kharkiv in Ukraine until the mid-1960s, when he moved to Moscow where he produced caricatures for 'Literaturnaya gazeta'. In 1974 he emigrated to New York City. 'Through collages, artist’s books, and other mixed media objects - which the artist minimally altered from their everyday appearance - he revealed the fine line that can separate normality from madness, banality from absurdity, platitude from blasphemy. Through experimentation and the development of inventive artistic strategies, Bakhchanyan broadened the range of expressive possibilities for other nonconformist artists. Many of his puns became an intrinsic part of Soviet dissident culture.' (Julia Tulovskaya in 'Vagrich Bakhchanyan: Accidental Absurdity', the 2016 exhibition at the Zimmerli Art Museum).

Provenance

Collection of Mikhail Grobman, Jerusalem

Exhibited

St Petersburg, The State Russian Museum; Moscow, The State Tretyakov Gallery; Frankfurt am Main, Städel et al., 'Nonkonformisty: vtoroy russkiy avangard 1955-1988', 1996-1997, illustrated on p.82 of the catalogue

Condition

There are pinholes to both top corners and creasing and wear to all four corners. There are creases and a tear to the upper layer towards the center. Handling marks are visible to all edges, most noticeably finger prints to the left edge. The sheet has discolored unevenly and there is a layer of surface dirt. Writing along the bottom edge appears to have been removed by the artist. The work is hinged to the mount in several places in the corners and along the edges. Held in a simple wooden frame behind plexiglass. Unexamined out of frame.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.