136

Magdalena Abakanowicz

1930-2017

"Atoris," 2005

Patinated bronze
Titled, dated, and signed with artist's monogram verso
72.5" H x 25.5" W x 21.5" D

  • Notes:
    The lot is accompanied by an exhibition catalogue from the Marlborough Gallery in New York, "Magdalena Abakanowicz: Embodied Forms," which ran from February 7 to March 10, 2018.

    Magdalena Abakanowicz emerged as one of the most influential and innovative sculptors of the 20th century; her work was profoundly shaped by the tumultuous historical events she experienced in her native Poland. Born into an aristocratic family on the eve of World War II, Abakanowicz's early life was marked by upheaval, loss, and the brutality of war. These formative experiences would inform her artistic vision, leading her to create powerful, often unsettling works that explored themes of human dignity, collective behavior, and the relationship between individuals and society.

    Living under Soviet Communist rule, she studied weaving at the Academy of Plastic Arts in Warsaw. Working with imported sisal and later with deconstructed ship rope, she created woven sculptural textiles, exploring figural, abstract, and geometric forms in space that challenged traditional notions of sculpture and weaving. Within this medium, Abakanowicz was beginning to establish her own voice internationally. In 1962, her woven pieces would find the world stage at the 1st International Tapestry Biennial in Lausanne and later at the 8th São Paulo Biennial, where she was awarded the Gold Medal in Applied Arts. Polish art critic Elzbieta Zmudzka would later coin the term "Abakans," by which her textile sculptures are now known.

    "The Abakans were a kind of bridge between me and the outside world. I could surround myself with them; I could create an atmosphere in which I somehow felt safe because they were my world; they were something between figurative and natural, like animals, like figures, while abstract, like geometric forms, but never to be definitively described." – Magdalena Abakanowicz

    Themes of wartime violence and the traumas of occupation span the breadth of Abakanowicz's career. She always focused on the human form and its capacity to convey complex emotional and philosophical ideas. She manipulated felled tree trunks capped in wrought iron for the series "War Games," which debuted at MoMA PS1 in 1993. These monumental horizontal structures invoke the violence of an artillery machine built from the scattered remains of its victims. In "Figure in Iron House" (1989-1990), a headless burlap figure is represented within an iron cage. The figure's position seems to capture an underlying sense of imprisonment implicit in the necessary measures to safeguard a body, perhaps even an entire population, once violated by foreign invasion. That very same year, the Iron curtain would be lifted.

    During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Abakanowicz embarked on bronze figural projects. She cast multiple series of "Standing Figures," crowds of seemingly mummified bodies in states of rigor mortis. Contemporary to "Standing Figures," "Atoris" is reminiscent of the exhumed bodies found preserved in the bogs of Northern Europe, now standing sentinel as an example of the inexorable anonymity and degeneration wrought by the slow march of time.
  • Condition: Overall good condition with scattered minor scuffs, dust accumulation, and darkening/oxidation to bronze commensurate with age. Verdigris to figure's feet and ankles with scattered small spots at edges verso.

    Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping. As a courtesy to buyers, Moran provides a list of preferred shippers who are in the business of transporting antiques and works of art. Buyers are responsible for arranging their own shipping estimates and deliveries. Moran, in its sole discretion and as a courtesy to buyers, may arrange to have purchased lots packed, insured, and forwarded by a third-party shipper at the request, expense, and risk of the buyer. In circumstances where Moran arranges for such third-party services, Moran may apply an administration charge of 15% of that service fee. Moran assumes no responsibility for acts or omissions in such packing or shipping by other packers or carriers, even if recommended by Moran. Moran also assumes no responsibility for any damage to picture frames or to the glass therein.

November 19, 2024 12:00 PM PST
Monrovia, CA, US

John Moran Auctioneers

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 $999,999 $50,000
$1,000,000 + $100,000