562 - UECKER, GÜNTHER

UECKER, GÜNTHER 1930 Wendorf–2025 Düsseldorf Title: Untitled (Pillow and Book, Light). Date: 1969/2021. Technique: Bronze, patinated. Dimensions: 25 x 34 x 25 cm. Inscription: Signed, dated, and numbered on the bottom: Uecker 1969–2021 IV/VI. Foundry mark: Next to this, foundry mark. From an edition of 19 Arabic-numbered and 6 Roman-numbered copies in this color variation. The edition “Untitled (Cushion and Book)” was produced in 2021 as a patinated bronze cast. Provenance: - Private collection, Hesse One of Günther Uecker’s great passions was traveling. On one such trip to Bhutan in 1968, he made an observation that deeply intrigued him: the Buddhist monks living there kept their books under their pillows at night. This unusual connection between book, pillow, and sleep fascinated Uecker greatly. For the artist, it linked something everyday with profound spiritual and religious significance. The idea that the prayer book lay beneath the head during the night—and thus in immediate proximity to the person—and the question of whether its contents might be absorbed left a lasting impression on him. As a parting gift, Uecker was given a pillow and a secondhand prayer book. Back in Germany, he transformed them into an art object of his own: he joined the pillow and the book together by forcefully driving a large nail through both objects. Thus, from his personal memories of his journey and experiences, a powerful sculptural work emerged. The nail, a characteristic element of Uecker’s art, takes on essential significance in this context. It is not merely a means of joining the two objects, but becomes, as it were, a symbol: the artwork holds together the book and the pillow, the spiritual world and everyday life, knowledge and contemplation. More than fifty years later, a small edition in bronze was produced from the original one-of-a-kind piece. Thanks to state-of-the-art technical processes, this unique work of art was captured in three dimensions, enabling a model—or rather a casting mold—to be produced for the creation of the bronze sculpture. In this way, the concept behind the original work was transformed into a new material, ensuring its immortality. Estimated shipping costs for this lot: This lot is not suitable for parcel shipping. Transport is only available via a shipping company after consultation following the auction. Additional shipping insurance Shipping insurance up to a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: max. 41.65 euros over a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: 1.8 per thousand Shipping to the U.S. by individual arrangement after the auction. #Günther Uecker #ZERO #Germany #Post-War Art #2020s #Sculptures. In accordance with §26 UrhG (German Copyright Act), VAN HAM is obligated to pay a statutory resale royalty on the sale proceeds of all original works of fine art and photography whose authors have not been deceased for 70 years prior to the end of the calendar year of the sale. The buyer shall contribute 1.5% of the hammer price toward this fee.