LONDON.- Constant Change (2005), a monumental sculpture by Sir Tony Cragg CBE RA, will be offered at
Bonhams Post-War & Contemporary Sale, on Thursday 3 October, at its London New Bond Street saleroom. This spectacular example of his work will lead the sale with an estimate of £450,000-650,000.
Cragg (b. 1949) created Constant Change in 2005. Standing over 4.5 metres tall, the sculpture is the largest work by the artist ever to appear at auction with the two, highly polished, stainless steel columns towering over viewers.
In an interview for Bonhams Magazine, Cragg stated, “Sculpture isn’t driven by usefulness… it is a free extension into the material. My works are things that wouldn’t exist if you didn’t make them.”
Bonhams Global Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Ralph Taylor, commented, “This work is incredibly exciting to bring to auction, as Tony Cragg is one of the most important sculptors of our time. His works exist in a hybrid space, each is completely unique and yet, all seemingly belong to the same species. We have great confidence the piece will end up in a fantastic collection.”
Cragg’s exceptional work has garnered global critical acclaim over the years, and his most prominent achievements include representing Britain at the 1988 Venice Biennale, and winning the Turner Prize the same year. In 1995 he was elected a Royal Academician and he was awarded a CBE for services to art in 2002.
The sale also includes a wooden maquette of Constant Change, a fifth of the size of the full-scale final piece, at 95cm high. The maquette has an estimate of £80,000 - 120,000.
Other highlights include:
• Jean Dubuffet (French, 1901-1985) Cafetière V, 1965. Estimate: £500,000 – 700,000.
• Zao Wou-Ki (Chinese/French, 1921-2013) 23-9-70, 1970. Estimate: £400,000 – 600,000.
• David Hockney (British, born 1937) Hollywood Pool and Palm Tree, 1965. Estimate: £250,000 – 350,000.
• Serge Poliakoff (Russian/French, 1900-1969) Composition abstraite, 1964. Estimate: £250,000 – 350,000.
• Lucio Fontana (Italian, 1899-1968) Concetto spaziale, Attese, 1960. Estimate: £250,000 – 350,000.
• Alighiero Boetti (Italian, 1940-1994) Oggi il trentesimo del quarto mese uno nove otto nove, 1989. Estimate: £200,000 – 300,000.
