Giacometti sculpture fetches record $104M

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: MSNBC

A life-size bronze sculpture of a man by Alberto Giacometti has been sold at a London auction for 65 million pounds ($104 million). Sotheby’s says the sale set a world record as the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction.

The auction house said Wednesday it took just eight minutes for bidders to reach the hammer price for “L’Homme Qui Marche I” (Walking Man I), which opened at 12 million pounds.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35223008/ns/entertainment-arts_books_more/

---

Wow, someone's still got money to burn. Record art prices are normally a sign of the height of a financial bubble.

[Enrique]

1. not worth it

imho. :shrug:

[wtmusic]

2. Don't let Steve Wynn get near that mofo. nt

[truthisfreedom]

8. I know Steve and his beautiful wife Linda. Why do you say that?

Just wonderin'.

[truthisfreedom]

9. Oh, wait... I saw music in your moniker and thought it was this guy.

http://www.stevewynn.net/

[wtmusic]

10. .

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Oct-17-Tue-2006/news/10274785.html

[rfranklin]

3. Proof once again that there is too much money in the hands of the rich...

The entire "credit crisis" or whatever you want to call it was the end result of leaving too much money in the hands of the rich who then "invest" it and demand outrageous returns on it for doing absolutely nothing. Producing nothing. Benefiting no one but themselves. And in the end stealing from all of us.

This object should be melted down and turned into something useful.

And I say that as an artist.

[LeftHander]

4. I knew what sculpture it was just by reading the artists name...

Having seen the piece countless times in art history books and seeing pieces by the artist at the Chicago art institute. It was not a surprise.

That piece is super famous...and a key work in art history. A modern interpretation of Auguste Rodin's sculpture of the same and another in a long line of sculptures tracing back to pre-history.

The subject of a male figure in full stride is a keystone subject of art through the centuries. It gives us the ability to look at our existence through the ages not by a redacted and over edited religious text or the scraps of a selfish consumer society. But a simple expressive subject of human locomotion. Upright walking separates us from all other creatures that have existed on this planet. The ability to express that in a art form is a wonder of humanity.

Giacometti's work sold at auction today is most likely the representative piece for the 20th Century.

Without work like this we would leave little behind of substance for future generations to marvel at and trace the ascent of humankind.

That is why I love and appreciate art...at any worth.

"IMHO"

[quiet.american]

5. Thanks for the insights! I, too, enjoyed seeing his work at MoMa (a few years ago, now). nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Representative of art history, perhaps, but not humanity or culture

Off the top of my head, Picasso's 'Guernica' qualifies far better for that. There is, after all, something about the 20th century in it. Though I'd suggest a film, or TV program, being the innovative art forms of the century, would do better still.

[kwassa]

13. In your opinion

everybody is a critic, I guess.

The bottom line is that some value this expression very, very much.

One art form does not negate another, by the way, and I would point out that you are arguing the value of a particular medium over content of that medium.

[atomic-fly]

7. thanks for your input! nt

[carla]

19. Astute.

But mostly made up. Giacometti was no more making a universal statement than is any other artist. It takes a unique sense of self-importance to talk about universals. The piece itself is nothing wondrous. Bronze, badly formed with little human content. Nice try though. IMHO.

[LeftHander]

22. Here.......Walking As Art....very cool collection of walking art....

Again...shows the significance of the piece.

http://www.univie.ac.at/cga/art/sculpture.html

[Jennicut]

26. I like this one

Now something about that is just very cool.

[sufrommich]

25. Great post, LeftHander. nt

[Blue_Tires]

27. I wish i had an eye for visual art

I can only see paintings and sculptures through literalist eyes, never ever comprehending the hidden meaning

[onehandle]

11. I'm an artist. I will make five of those tonight.

I'm Rich!

[concerned1]

17. Make one of these too:

Robert Gober, "Untitled (Leg)", 1989-90, Museum of Modern Art, New York

[chollybocker]

12. I bought one of those things on eBay for fifteen bucks.

:)

[Quantess]

16. You overpaid. Ikea is selling them for $12

The item's name is "Vidrig"



(just kidding)

[420inTN]

14. why? it looks like crap, imho. n/t

[Duer 157099]

15. Gee, I hope it's authentic

I remember reading that there are tons and tons of Giacometti fakes out there.

[Princess Turandot]

18. I always wonder with sales like these whether the work will disappear for decades..

into a private collection, whose owner enjoys the fact that only they can view the piece. Let's hope that's not the case here. (It was previously in a corporate collection. They tend to let the works out for shows and otherwise display them, if only in their company's building.)

[lunatica]

20. The top 1% have more money than they ever had

And art is one of the best ways to show it off. They can pay millions to take it out of view of us regular 'little' people. I'm sure the artist would be delighted to know only a handful of rich people get to enjoy it.

[dustbunnie]

21. Slightly off topic, but that's a great photograph. n/t

[Robb]

23. I noticed that, too. nt

[sufrommich]

24. I agree. It was the first thing I thought .