Get ready for the 16th-17th of May: the Modern Art + Design auction begins at Bukowskis, and with it comes a unique opportunity to bid on some of the most sought-after and talked-about works of art and design of modernity. Josef Frank, Gösta Adrian-Nilsson, Andy Warhol, Bror Hjorth, Carl-Axel Acking and Hans Hedberg are just a few of the renowned names that headline Bukowskis' spring catalog.
One of the main highlights of the upcoming auction is Gösta Adrian-Nilsson's Snälltåg/Schnellzug ('Express Train'), which has already attracted considerable attention from art collectors worldwide. Adrian-Nilsson was one of Sweden's leading modernists, known for introducing the Cubist and Futurist movements to Swedish painting. With Snälltåg/Schnellzug, Adrian-Nilsson proves his technical skill in creating mood and atmosphere with color, form and brushstrokes. The work embodies in many ways what the artist expressed in an article titled 'Om ny konst' ('About New Art') published in the magazine Arbetet in 1914:
"He loves power and light – the sudden movement of life around him. He loves the flight of the airplane as it rises above the earth and cuts through the rays of the sun – he loves the singing automobile that flashes across the shining asphalt, and the flying invisible words from the wireless telegraph stand. He loves the beauty of the huge bridges, bridges of steel and human genius, the menacing lifts of giant cranes carrying loads as heavy as mountains, the electric lights that suddenly turn night into dazzling day. He loves everything that his own time has produced of human spiritual greatness – and he loves not only with his heart but also with his brain."
Andy Warhol, one of the most famous and talked about artists of the 20th century, is also present at the spring auction at Bukowskis. The portrait of Mick Jagger from 1975 is part of a series of motifs that Warhol created based on personal photographs taken by his friend. Warhol's works are well known around the world and have become iconic symbols of Pop Art over the years. The portraits of Mick Jagger reflect both his characteristic style and his fascination with fame and celebrity. The color serigraph in this catalog is signed by both the artist and the singer Mick Jagger.
Another renowned artist featured in the auction is Bror Hjorth, represented here with the work Flowers and Electrical Contact. The painting is an outstanding example of Hjorth's ability to create works that are both enigmatic and suggestive. Here, he has combined painting with sculptural elements, in both the hand-chiseled frame and the choice of subject matter. Hjorth was one of Sweden's most prominent sculptors, painters and draughtsmen in the 20th century. He is considered one of the great modernists of Swedish art, and the opportunity to offer Flowers and Electrical Contact will certainly attract art collectors all around the country and beyond.
Another internationally recognized sculptor is Hans Hedberg, whose work Big Lying Lemon challenges the viewer's perception of form and space. The sculpture showcases Hedberg's minimalist and geometric style, which has so often resulted in stunning sculptures that are both beautiful and thought-provoking.
In addition to a wide range of works of art, the Modern Art + Design auction also features a number of exciting design objects from internationally renowned designers. Carl-Axel Acking's floor lamp model 2645 from Bröderna Malmströms Foundry is an example of Swedish design at its best – contemporary and classic at the same time.
Austrian architect and designer Josef Frank was one of the pioneers of functionalism, but is perhaps best known in Sweden for his collaboration with the interior design company Svenskt Tenn and its founder, Estrid Ericson. Early on in his career, Frank designed outstanding cabinets upholstered in the most beautiful textiles, and the piece in this spring's auction is no exception. The cabinet is a larger version of furniture model number 522 – a special order by Countess Elsa von Rosen (1904-1991).
For the connoisseurs, the Modern Art + Design auction at Bukowskis in May is an exclusive opportunity to indulge in internationally recognized art and design. For the collectors, it is a unique opportunity to come across valuable works with unrivaled provenance; and for the beginners, it is a chance to discover some of the 20th century's leading artists and designers. In other words, there is something for everyone.