This total, equal to last year, far outweighs the pre-sale estimate of £21.3 million. Among the 41 lots sold, records sales were made for Lucy McKenzie, Henry Taylor, Imi Knoebel, Gerald Laing, and Adrian Ghenie. Ghenie’s work, Nickelodeon, was one of only two artworks to be guaranteed and sold at £7.1 million — 4 times above the estimate. The auction saw american dealer and collector Stefan Simchowitz, spend £ 7.4 million on 2 pieces by Damien Hirst, a bronze by Thomas Schütte — Bronzefrau Nr. 13 for £3.749 million — and Jean Dubuffet's La Vie Agreste (The Rural Life) (1949) for £2.6 million. The latter two pieces were among the 3 most expensive sold during the auction. More information on Art News.
Adrian Ghenie, Nickelodeon (2008) ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016
Christie’s also held an Italian Sale yesterday in London, generating a total of £18.7 million (with buyer’s premium): 59 lots were sold, 76% of lots, 73% by value. The auction was dominated by Pino Pascali's Code di Delfino (tail of a dolphin), sold for £2.6 million with buyer premium, a new record for the artist. More information on The Art Newspaper.
Following three years of renovation, the MoMA PS1 will reopen James Turrell’s site-specific installation Meeting (1986). The blue skylight, one of two, will be open to the public from Saturday. Turrell oversaw the renovation, newly housed in a teak wood setting and now including timed LED fixtures that adjust their levels throughout the year to match solar movements. To celebrate, MoMA PS1 is staying open later than its normal hours between October 8 and November 5 to briefly allow for after-sunset viewings. More details on Curbed.
