Bidspirit auction | Gary Hume ”Momento Mori” Mixed

Gary Hume ”Momento Mori” Mixed Media 2005 - Gary Hume (English, b. 1962). Charcoal and gloss on canvas with a mirrored frame titled ”Momento Mori” depicting a skull in profile, 2005. Signed and dated along the verso. With a label from Christie's affixed to the verso. Provenance: Christie's London, September 24, 2013; Private Minnesota Collection. Lot Essay: Gary Hume's first major exhibition was ”Freeze” organized in 1988 by Damien Hirst. From that point forward he grew to prominence and became well known for his depictions of subjects in high gloss paint. His early works, which gained critical acclaim, were his life-size representations of hospital doors. Later, he moved from doors to celebrities, animals, and simplified forms in two to three colors. His works have been praised for their ability to ”simultaneously produce beauty and pleasure alongside empathy, melancholy, and a sense of loss.” The high-gloss household enamel paint of the skeleton combined with the matte texture of the background exemplifies this sense of beauty alongside melancholy. Enhancing the sense of melancholy is the poignant reflection of one's mortality within the mirrored frame, encapsulated by the title ”Memento Mori, ” translating to ”Remember you must die.” Sight; height: 23 3/4 in x width: 17 1/2 in. Framed; height: 28 3/4 in x width: 22 3/4 in. Condition: Please contact us for a detailed condition report. Please note that the lack of a condition statement does not imply perfect condition. Email condition@revereauctions.com with any condition questions.