NICOLA BOLLA | Vanitas

executed in 1997, Swarovski crystals on metallic frame. This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist(eseguito nel 1997, cristalli Swarovski su rete metallica. Quest'opera è accompagnata da certitificato di autenticità firmato dall'artista)This strikingly iridescent work by Bolla represents one of the key subjects explored for centuries throughout the history of art. Life and death conflate. This skull, symbol of thanatos par excellence, is completely covered in precious pink crystals. As such, this is an iteration of that emblem of death has recurred in works since the dawn of figurative art, the memento mori. His aim is not to represent the “real thing” but to evoke its metaphor and metamorphosis. Playing with light and shadow, he pushes the idea of the ephemeral to its extreme.(Questa strabiliante opera di Bolla rappresenta uno degli argomenti indagati per secoli nella storia dell’arte: la morte e la vita che si concilia con essa. Il teschio, simbolo di thanatos per eccellenza, si ricopre di preziosi cristalli rosa. Ed ecco che esso rivisita quella riflessione emblematica del tema della morte che ricorre fin dal principio dell'arte figurativa: il memento mori. Il suo scopo non è quindi quello di rappresentare la realtà fine a se stessa, ma di evocare la sua metafora e metamorfosi. Giocando con le luci e le ombre, l'artista estremizza l'idea dell'effimero.)THE SALE PROCEEDS FOR THIS LOT WILL BENEFIT PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES. (IL RICAVO DELLA VENDITA DI QUESTO LOTTO SARÀ DESTINATO AD ATTIVITÀ FILANTROPICHE.)

Galleria Corso Venezia 8, Milan

This work is in mint condition. (IN GENERALE L'OPERA E' IN OTTIME CONDIZIONI.) Please note that article 11 of General Condition of Business (Online Only) is not applicable for this lot  (Si prega di notare che l'articolo 11 delle Condizioni Generali di Vendita (Online Only) non è applicabile per questo lotto)
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.