Primate sculptures feature in Australian online art auction

Fifty-seven-year-old leading Australian artist Lisa Roet is fascinated with the relationship between humans and primates, travelling to remote areas in Borneo to further her knowledge, and unashamedly uses the monkey as the muse for her sculpture creations.

Based in Melbourne, one of her ape sculptures is part of the famous McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery near the outer suburb of Frankston.

Auction goers will have the chance to buy several of her works at Menzies online Australian & International Multiples & Sculptures sale finishing from 6.30pm Wednesday June 18.

Selected works will be on display from 10am-5pm from Thursday June 12 to Wednesday June 18 at Menzies Sydney premises, 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington, and Melbourne’s 1 Darling Street, South Yarra.

Roet’s standout piece is entitled Sneezing Snub-nosed Monkey (lot 14) created in 2014.

The defining feature of this piece is the fact it is carved from high quality white Yunnan marble from China’s province of the same name.

Much harder and more difficult to work with than the Italian Carrara marble normally used in such sculptures, Roet chose the material because it is from the same region as the critically endangered snub-nosed monkey.

The highest estimate piece in the auction, at $80,000-$120,000, is Clement Meadmore’s (1929-2005) Nidor 1980 (lot 13).

A table top size sculpture of classical form in a brown patina, Melbourne-based Meadmore became one of Australia’s most accomplished sculptors, achieving commercial and critical success in both his native country and the United States where he lived from 1963 until his death.  

British artist Damien Hirst features prominently with his colour woodcut entitled Bromobenzotrifluoride (from 12 Woodcut Spots) 2010 (lot 4).

Since creating his first spot paintings in 1986, Hirst’s works have reached classical status in international contemporary art – with more than 1000 completed in the series.

Each of the 12 woodcut spots in the auction piece bears the name of a pharmaceutical from Hirst’s copy of The Physicians’ Reference – a trade listing of prescription drugs.

Another fascinating inclusion is Hol en Bol 1955 (lot 16) by Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelius (known as M.C.) Escher (1898-1972).

Many of his woodcuts, lithographs and mezzotints were inspired by mathematics – but, despite wide popularity, he was ignored by the art world and it wasn’t until he was 70 that a retrospective exhibition of his works was held.

Hol en Bol is typical of Escher’s mind-bending puzzle creations, which he concentrated on after leaving Italy to escape the rising fascism of the 1930s, to settle in The Netherlands.

Iconic Australian artist Brett Whiteley (1930-1992) makes for an interesting and affordable inclusion with several black and white etchings (lots 19-24) entitled A Day at Bondi 1984.

Works by Australia’s most celebrated ceramic artist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott (1935-2013), whose career spanned six decades, is another auction highlight.

The lots from 47 to 54 were acquired by a Sydney family directly from the artist and regularly used as drinking vessels.

At the time of purchase, the family lived in Mackay on the central Queensland coast and had befriended Piggott whose pottery they adored.

During a visit to their home, the artist was fascinated with the fact they were using her creations to drink from and subsequently supplied the family with matching water jugs after they requested them.

Other Australian artists to feature in the auction include several works by Margaret Preston (1875-1963) like Beach Scene, Balmoral 1929 (lot 26), Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013) such as The Last Train 1989 (lot 18) and Patricia Piccinini’s Maple Dream (lot 10).

Iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) even has three works in the auction, including an earthenware ceramic plate entitled Picador et Taureau 1953 (lot 56).