KOLLER VIEW 4/23

4 Preview of the PostWar & Contemporary Art auction on 30 November 2023 At the limits of perception Depending on one’s viewpoint, the lines and rods seem to vibrate, move or oscillate. The artist encour- ages his audience to explore the interactions between shapes, colours and materials and to individually test the limits of visual perception. Throughout his life, Jannis Kounellis dealt with the difficulty of representing contemporary reality using classical painterly means. He tried different paths, used new materials and sought to express himself with various forms, as in his work ‘Untitled’ from 1989, offered in our 30 November auction (ill. 3). The use of spacious installations and diverse materials such as earth, wool, coal, fire and lead provided Kounellis the artistic freedom that inspires many contemporary artists. ‘Surveillance Camera and Plinth’ by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (ill. 2) addresses the interactions between control and visibility, and the tension between the possibilities of contemporary technology and the cul- tural values of the past and, like most of Ai Weiwei's artistic works, it has a political dimension as well as a visual and philosophical one. Our modern world is permeated by a growing network of surveillance; at almost every turn, our personal freedoms and our relationship to the public sphere are affected by this development. The emblematic mar- ble sculpture is a powerful metaphor that challenges us to question the contradiction between security and freedom in our time. ‘Trois cercles noirs’ by Venezuelan op- and kinetic art- ist Jesús Rafael Soto is a fascinating visual challenge (ill. 1). The combination of different materials and col- ours immerses the viewer in a world of optical illusions. Black circles, lines and metal rods hanging loosely from wires appear to float. The weight of the metallic shapes causes the wires to form parallel lines, adding to the impression of translocation and dynamism. Soto also suggests visual depth with the fine white vertical lines against a black background. © 2023, ProLitteris, Zurich 2 1 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION POSTWAR & CONTEMPORARY Clarisse Doge doge@kollerauktionen.ch ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com