For the next Photographs sale at Artcurial, Arnaud Adida and Christophe Lunn selected 22 prints from the 170 lots offered for auction on June 29th in Paris.
Arnaud Adida is founder and director of the A. Galerie and Agence A. and expert for Photographs at Artcurial.
Arnaud : My mother, whom I love, worked all her life in fashion. It is not a coincidence that I am fond of fashion photography, in Artcurial sales, my personal collection, or my gallery. For the 3rd sale at Artcurial which Christophe Lunn and I curated, here are the photos I like the most. You will note that 8 out of 11 are fashion photographs.
Albert WATSON (Born in 1942) – MONKEY WITH GUN, NEW YORK – 1992 I had this photograph, in a larger version, in my dining room for years. For me it symbolizes man’s beginning and end. We all know that man is a wolf to man. Man destroys his habitat and will end up destroying himself. It is not a happy statement but this is what this photo inspires in me.
Peter LINDBERGH (Born in 1944) – NADJA AUERMANN, PARAMOUNT STUDIO, LOS ANGELES – 1996 I have always loved photographs of hands. Hands are gracious, strong, essential to humans. In this portrait of Nadja Auermann by Lindbergh, the face is soft, the photographer decided to focus on the fragile hands. Very beautiful.
RANKIN & Damien HIRST (Born 1966) & (Born 1965) – MEDUSA (SERIE : MYTHS) – 2011 The series Myths, Monsters and Legends is a mad series concocted by British artists Rankin and Damien Hirst. They conceived and created enigmatic characters, even scary ones, which they photographed in eery locations. This is the softest of the photographs, the most aesthetic of the series. One sees Medusa, the woman with snakes in her hair, from Greek mythology, who had the power to petrify any human being who dared look at her.
Paolo ROVERSI (Born in 1947) – KATE MOSS POUR VOGUE, PARIS – 1994 It is a very beautiful unique Polaroïd print, shot with a 20 x 25 view camera. The blue tonality gives Kate Moss’s eyes even more depth.
Gauthier GALLET (1971-2003) – EMMANUELLE ALT, REI KAWAKUBO, SUZY MENKES, PIERRE BERGE, BERNARD ARNAULT, DELPHINE ARNAULT, KARL LAGERFELD ET STEPHEN GAND, DEFILE DIOR HOMME, PARIS – 2001 Gauthier, who disapeared a dozen years ago, was a photographer who ran in the world of fashion and nightlife. He took pictures of runway shows, backstage and Parisian parties with ease, fun and lightheartedness. A really nice guy. In this photograph at a Dior show in 2001, is featured a real “who’s who” of art and fashion : Bernard Arnault in conversation with Pierre Bergé, Delphine Arnault more beautiful than ever in her J’Adore Dior t-shirt, Karl Lagerfeld plotting with his neighbor whose name I don’t remember, Emmanuelle Alt on the phone, probably with the staff at Vogue, Suzy Menkes whose eyes are closed as she thinks about her magazine going to press, Emmanuel Perrotin and Kamel Mennour, the two young wolves of contemporary art, seated next to each other in the second row, etc… A great photo. A historic moment!
Helmut NEWTON (1920-2004) – NU AU MIROIR, PARIS, 1976 Newton is Newton! A master, a great master! Even if it is less trashy than the rest of his work, this photograph is amazing. First of all, because I had never seen this image. There are magazines or books on the floor, the girl is naked on her bed and has a nice butt….but the big question is : why is she still wearing her shoes? It is sexual, it is sexy, even poetic. The print is very nice. Vintage.
Elliott ERWITT (Born in 1928) – MARILYN MONROE READING A BOOK, NEW YORK – 1956 I like this photograph because I like Elliott Erwitt – he is a high flyer – an artist unequaled – a rare spirit. I also believe this is the most beautiful portrait of Marilyn. Something is going on : she is thinking, with a book in her hand and a mischeivous look. It is an unusual photograph for an actress used to sexy and glamourous portraits.
Mark SELIGER (Born in 1959) – BRAD PITT, LOS ANGELES – 1998 Mark Seliger is also an extraordinary artist. He is without doubt one of the great current portraitists, and has been for the last 30 years (Yes Mark – we don’t get any younger!). I like this portrait of Brad Pitt. I believe he shot it during “The Fight Club”. I like the contrast between the shaved head, his sunglasses on his head and his couture dress!
Melvin SOKOLSKY (Born in 1933) – BUBBLE ON THE SEINE, PARIS HARPER’S BAZAR – 1963 This photo for me is an example of the ingenuity and creative technique in pre-Photoshop photography. What is annoying about Photoshop today is that nothing astounds us anymore. Why? Because Photoshop opened up evry possibility. Well good old Melvin, in 1963, had a very small crane on wheels, he had two pieces of plexiglas which he turned into a bubble with hot air, he had metalic cables to hold the bubble and a freaked out model inside who was afraid the contraption was going to collapse! In short, he created in 1963 an amazing photograph, a dream, without Photoshop, just with ideas and creativity. Hats off…
Leroy GRANNIS (1917-2011) – CAMERAMAN COVERING DUKE CONTEST, SUNSET BEACH – 1967 This print is rare. It sold out a long time ago and it appeals to fans of the 1960s. Leroy Grannis’ photographs of surfing in the 1960s-1970s are extraordinary. They are beautiful, fresh, well shot. It is beautiful blue in your head with vacation at the end of the ride.
Valérie BELIN (Born in 1964) – SANS TITRE, SÉRIE BLACK WOMEN – 2001 For me, Valerie Belin is the best French contemporary artist using photography. In my personal collection, I have 3 oversize portraits by Valérie. One day I swore I would buy one of her still lifes of motors. They are magnificent. This series on blacks is also very strong. Her retrospective at the Centre Pompidou opened on June 22. Above all, she has the most important quality for an artist : she is consistent. She has completed a dozen series since the end of the 1990s. None of them are failed, none of them are weak. You like it or you don’t, but her work is very consistent, regular, applied. I love her work.
AUCTION
Photographies
Monday 29th June, 2015 at 7:00pm
Exhibition
26 June, 11pm-7pm
27 June, 11pm-6pm
28 June, 2pm-6pm
29 June, by appointment
Artcurial
7 rond-point des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris
Consultez le catalogue en ligne :
http://issuu.com/artcurialbpt/docs/2749?e=6268161/12789934
