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CibbuanoThe Obesity of Record Breaking Art
May 16th 2008 01:26
The Body Treasured
Benefits Supervisor Sleeping
Proving again that art is like beauty “in the eye of the beholder” a picture titled “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping” has gone under the hammer at London’s famous Christie’s Auction house for the staggering sum of $33.6 million.
The work painted by British Artist Lucian Freud broke the record for the largest sum ever paid for a work by a living artist. Reported on CNN.com the painting depicts Sue Tilley, a civil servant manager sleeping on a tattered lounge.
Lucian Freud at work
From the CNN article:
“Christie's calls it a "bold and imposing example of the stark power of Lucian Freud's realism," depicting "the forceful and undeniable physical presence of people and things."
“The painting challenges modern notions of beauty and elicits a reaction from everyone who sees it. That may have been precisely the aim of Freud, who told London's Tate Gallery in 2002 that he wanted his paintings to "astonish, disturb, seduce, convince."
"It's the sort of thing that everyone immediately wants to voice an opinion about," he said of the painting. "It challenges conventional taste ... and people do find that rather exciting and interesting to talk about."
“Though some regard the painting as shocking -- ugly, even -- that is also the appeal for collectors, said Michael Hall, editor of Apollo Magazine in London.”
"There's a reaction against art that's regarded as too pretty," he said.
Lucian Freud Reflections - Self Portrait
Personally I see a tranquil poetry to the image, a relaxed outsider at ease in her skin. A woman comfortable in her own over sized body, the peaceful essence exuding the intended “beauty”.
A compilation of Britian's most respected living Artisan Lucian Freud
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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at first it is quite confrontational but then it emits a kind of serenity!
great article, really opened my eyes to the artist!