[img]http://www.aksioma.org/name/auction/th\_name\_readymade\_passport.jpg[/img]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On November 18, 2010 the conceptual artwork by Janez Janša, Janez Janša, Janez Janša, entitled “PB0241891 (Passport)”, was sold at auction for 1900 Euro.
The auction catalogue declared the art piece (Lot Nr. 12) to be “valid also as identification document, expiration date: 06.07.2017”.
The auction, organized by curators Alexandra Grausam and Elsy Lahner as part of the event “Hard to Sell, Good to Have”, took place at Palais Sturany in the city of Vienna and was run by Mag. Andrea Jungmann, Director of Sotheby’s Austria.
When asked why she accepted to facilitate the selling of a valid passport the auctioneer replied “the decision was because I was convinced that this work of art is something very special so, I wanted to sell it and as soon as the legal aspects were cleared I thought… ‘fine, then let’s do it!’. When I saw the work for the first time I was like ‘oh my god!’ you take away freedom from a person, which I think is just awful! But on the other hand I thought the idea behind it is just incredible, it makes one think. I’ve never experience any other artwork so controversial and I’ve never had so many thoughts before selling a work”.
Immediately after the auction the buyer, who at the moment prefers to remain anonymous, claimed he bid on the piece because he “saw something fresh in it, a new way of understanding the issue of Readymade - an interesting and challenging way to confront Duchamp”. When asked about the double nature of the item he added: “I'm aware there is a risk in buying this artwork, which is also a document, but you have to take a risk if you want to be a pioneer”.
Video (the auction):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3nxpCxgiI0
Video (the auctioneer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSsmzvvopA
Video (the buyer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH2\_FGSc1ro
Download here images FREE of charge:
http://www.aksioma.org/name/auction/index.html
Hard to Sell, Good to Have is a project initiated by Alexandra Grausam and Elsy Lahner, who together manage the Kunstverein das weisse haus. In cooperation with different art leading experts this discussion platform is addressing to the topic of art and economic systems for artists. More: www.hardtosell.at
The auction catalogue:
http://hardtosell.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/auction\_catalogue3.pdf
Contacts:
Marcela Okretič
Aksioma - Institute for Contemporary Art
Executive producer
Neubergerjeva 25, SI - 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel. +386-(0)41-250 830 | Fax. +386-(0)590-58 195
[email protected]
www.aksioma.org
Janez Jansa's valid passport sold at auction in Vienna
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Type: discussion
