To continue on what was said in my last article, I’m not at all surprised that Koon’s work went for the very low end of his estimated price, but am still a little shocked that it even got that high. Yes, it is a very beautiful work, but still, way over priced for an artist who doesn’t even do his own work.
However, let us talk about another artist that we have recently talked about. This artist was born in New York on August 15, 1950. He has spent his time trying to find what some call the most vulgar side of religion and to expose it to the masses. Photographer Andres Serrano will have three of his works go up for sale on July 16th at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The three pieces that he has going up for sale are nothing like the work Piss Christ that has been mentioned in the article before this, but never the less they are works of artist who has his own taste. The first work that I will talk about is titled Cabeza de Vaca. The best way to describe this work is a cow’s head on a little stand. The cow’s head looks back behind him as trying to find out if his body could actually be there or not. The work can be seen as grotesque being a severed head of an animal that was once living, but really…it isn’t really that much different than anything hanging on a sportsman’s wall.
Andres Serrano’s “Cabeza de Vaca”
The next two pieces I’d like to talk about are pretty much like this on in there really isn’t much with them at all. The Morgue and Budapest are really nothing special. The Morgue doesn’t have the shock and aw value that Piss Christ had and Budapest is really nothing more than just a portrait. Both are valued at $8,000 – $12,000 which I think is way over priced. I know I have said this before, but this price is strictly for the name and not for the piece. I know that Mr. Serrano is still alive and if anyone he knows read this, I’m not sorry for what I am saying here. You know how to take a photograph, but really what are the subject matters of? What separates your images from mine? Oh yeah…you were a one hit wonder who’s one image was damaged beyond repair by a museum goer…so now what? It’s been 20+ years…please come through with something else or noteworthy so we can talk about and that will get you back on the map.
Andres Serrano’s “The Morgue”
Andres Serrano’s “Budapest”
Now, outside of Serrano and two pieces by Andy Warhol that are included in this sale, there is one other notable artist, at least notable on my list, which is German born Joseph Beuys. Mr. Beuys was known for his performance really, for his works like How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare and I Like America and America Likes Me. This piece of work though, Food or Thought, isn’t like any of his other pieces of work. This is printed work, or as Christie’s has described it “Printed Paper and Butter”. This is really nothing more than what looks like a food list for the local college football team before the big game. This piece, like Serrano’s work, isn’t worth anything. Christie’s has it valued at $4,000-$6,000, and I can promise you this price is for nothing more than the name of the artist. The only reason why Serrano’s work is worth more than Beuys’ work is because, and I am just guessing here I really don’t know why, Serrano is more recent than Beuys, that is it. Beuys is well more known than Serrano, that is for sure, but really, this is more for public display than worth some private collector spending a couple of thousand of a piece that will not increase in value at all.
If someone wants to buy this work, then by all means do it, it is your own cash, but I would suggest to stay away from these four pieces unless you plan on donating it, because that will be the best thing you can do for it.
Joseph Beuys’ “Food for Thought
And like I said, there are two Warhol’s in this sale…they are no where close to his best work nor close to his most notable. Buy it for the name of the artist and nothing more as the $6,000-$8,000 price tag would be reasonable for that, based on the fact that it is Andy Warhol’s work.
For more information on these pieces and the others that will be on sale during Christie’s Open House auction that will take place on July 16th at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, please visit the link.
Art and Auction 