Which one is by the Orangutan?
October 14 2011
Picture: Sotheby's/Hogle Zoo
Which one of these sold last night at Sotheby's for £421,250 and which one was painted by an orangutan? I bet quite a few of you get the answer wrong.
Ok, I know it's a tired old cliché. But you've got to admit that this particular Orangutan, Acara (b.2005), is pretty talented...
Here's the catalogue note for Untitled by Christopher Wool:
Wool's attitude towards the role of images in our culture today, one which he shares with contemporaries such as Prince, Oehlen, Cady Noland and Kippenberger, has become increasingly important to a younger generation of image makers, including New York artists Wade Guyton, Josh Smith and Kelley Walker.
And here's the note for Untitled by Acara;
Born here at Utah's Hogle Zoo in 2005 to Elijah and Eve, Acara inherited some of her talent for art from her parents. She has been the most consistent and reliable orangutan in her desire to paint when asked to, and rarely turns down an opportunity to create a masterpiece. Still learning her craft, she has been an intent observer of the techniques our human guest artists have used, and has then used these techniques in her own work. She seems to be the most versatile in using different materials as well as different styles and can be counted on to deliver a finished piece in mere moments.
If you like Acara's work, then why not buy some here to help protect orangutans' native forests around the world.
