Bidspirit auction | Alex Grey Study for ”Tantra”

Alex Grey Study for ”Tantra” 1991 - Alex Grey (American, b. 1953). Graphite on paper drawing depicting a couple sensually embracing overlaid by a geometric form. Pencil signed and dated 1991 along the lower right. Two strips of paper have been taped to either side of the original sheet as the scale increased as the artist drew. Framed by the artist. This drawing is a study for ”Tantra, ” a painting of the same name. In the painting, the points where the lovers meet are painted in a fiery orange which quickly fade to deep purple. The painting is featured on page 66 of his book ”Transfigurations” and is described by the artist as thus: ”Locked in an embrace of love with Allyson, I sensed the skin on the backs of our bodies dissolving into a field of deep blue fire fluid. The blue felt like an ocean of understanding permeated by love, a field of unbounded energy that was our essential nature and to which we briefly return during the ecstatic ego oblivion of sex. It seemed as if the skin on the front of our bodies was the surface tension of ego, a bounding line of flesh that we could use to merge and transcend energetically by becoming synchronous with the primal depth of our heart union, which is symbolized by the enveloping aura of the latticelike Mobius egg.” Sight; height: 12 in x width: 10 in. Framed; height: 18 1/2 in x width: 16 1/2 in x depth: 1 in. Condition: There are two strips of paper taped to either side of the original sheet, original to the artistic process. There are some creases, handling marks, and areas of graphite transfer along the corners, most noticeable along the upper corners, likely original to the artist process. There is a small light brown area of soiling along the lower corner of the central sheet. The work is floated in frame on a nonacidic mat. Framed under plexiglass; light wear to the frame. Not inspected out of frame.