Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson all set to curate the renowned Sotheby’s auction
If you are an avid Hollywood lover, Robert Pattinson is a name you fondly associate with. He was after all the much sought-after hero of the romance fantasy franchise Twilight, apart from being the most-recent Batman. Now, Pattinson is back in the news for a completely and rather unexpected reason: he is all set to curate a high-end contemporary art auction in New York called the Sotheby’s auction in late September. Earlier, this prestigious art auction has been curated by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Swizz Beatz, Kim Jones, Jay Chou and Ellie Goulding.
According to several media sources, the Hollywood star described this opportunity as “a fascinating and fun experience to look forward to.” He also added how his journey as an actor has made him appreciate the interconnection between art forms, which has been no less than satisfying.
Sotheby’s action will exhibit seven distinguished artworks based on the theme “kaleidoscopic vision of contemporary art from post-war to today.” The pieces will be on public display from 23rd September through 29th September. The live auction is reported to be scheduled for the 30th.
When asked how he chose the artworks that will be showcased, Pattinson has been quoted saying, “What I look for is when a piece has its own language,” Pattinson said. “It doesn’t necessarily feel like it just exists for its own sake and has a presence that hums with a bit of life. It has the ability to communicate with you on a kind of primordial level.”
The Sotheby auction was established as early as 11th March in 1744 by an English bookseller named Samuel Baker in the heart of London. It is now deemed as the world’s largest, most trusted and dynamic marketplace for art and luxury and spans across 40 countries and 44 departments, including Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewellery, Watches, Wine and spirits, and Interiors among others. Six hundred auctions are now conducted every year, both virtually and physically.
Here's the list of the notable artworks that will be featured at the Sotheby auction this year.
Untitled: It is a 1964 painting by Willem de Kooning, a Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist. Its medium is oil on vellum, that is in turn mounted on linen. This abstract image is estimated to fetch a price between USD 1.8 to 2.5 million.
Rotation #9: An American artist specialising in large-scale sculptures, Richard Serra is responsible for this 2011 painting that is estimated between 200,000 and 300,000 USD. The artwork captures the intricacies of movements. The medium used here is paint stick on hand-made paper.
Untitled: This is a 2005 drawing by Julie Mehretu, an Ethiopian-American contemporary visual artist. It uses ink, coloured pencil and graphite on paper. The piece focussing on capturing the essence of magnitude and abundance is priced in between USD 180,000 and USD 250,000.
Old Rope: The artwork by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, a British painter and writer, is originally a 1977 oil on canvas painting but was later signed in 2006. It portrays an imaginary subject – a dejected dark-skinned woman. It has an estimated price between USD 100,000 and 150,000.
Portrait: This is a 2009 sculpture (head of a person) by Thomas Houseago, a British visual artist based in the USA. The statue is made of bronze and Californian redwood. It is priced somewhere in between USD 60,000 to 80,000.
Kissing by the Window: This piece of art by Genieve Figgis, an Irish artist is a 2015 acrylic on canvas with an estimated rate in between USD 30,000 and 40,000. It is a romantic drawing of a couple kissing passionately, right before they get estranged.
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind (Where have all the flowers gone): This 2012 painting by Anselm Kiefer, a German painter and sculptor, uses an ensemble of acrylic, emulsion, oil and shellac on canvas. It is estimated to fetch a price between USD 800,000 and 1.2 million. It has been inspired by the 1962 song by the same title immortalised by Marlene Dietrich at the UNICEF gala the same year.