As a bit of an expert in the Japanese contemporary market, I was very content to learn that Takashi Murakami was not only at Art Basel and purchasing works, but also that his own works are selling well. It seems Mr. Murakami purchased a self portrait sculpture by Julian Hoeber for $15,000 from Blum & Poe, the same gallery that represents Mr. Murakami in Los Angeles.
The “Unlimited” section of Art Basel is showcasing Mr. Murakami’s “Oval Buddha”, an 18 1/2 ft, platinum-clad sculpture of a janus-faced Oval (one of Mr. Murakami’s repeated characters, and also possibly a self-portrait) in the lotus position. The work sold for $8 million to an unidentified buyer. Another edition of “Oval Buddha” is currently on display in the 590 Sculpture Garden in Manhattan, as it is too monumental to be displayed with the rest of the ©Murakami exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Blum & Poe were also showing a small version of the sculpture in Basel. Cast from silver and on a marble plinth, the smaller edition sold for $2 million soon after the show opened.
Oval Buddha at LAMOCA
And just a note to say that I will be without internet for a few days (the thought it making me have a small panic attack. The whole point of going away for the weekend is to relax, and instead I’m making myself freak-out.). So, expect to see updates return either Sunday night or Monday.
1 response so far ↓
Kate Evans // June 9, 2008 at 5:40 am |
Hi there
If you are interested in Asian contemporary sculpture at Art Basel, you might like to check out Subodh Gupta’s Gandhi’s Three Monkeys in the public square just outside the main fair. The Times is saying that Art Basel is cementing his future as an ‘art market darling’. You can read more at my blog on wordpress called Art Radar Asia. Bear with me as I am a complete newbie at blogging but I am hope to provide news on contemporary art in Asia and from Asia. There are a couple of good print magazines but I would like to post news. Let me know if you come across any interesting stories or news!