Eddy Kamuanga (born 1991, Democratic Republic of the Congo) 2018 Oil on canvas Signed and dated on the top part of the canvas 204 x 184 cmExceptional performance for Modern and Contemporary Art from Africa at auction in Paris

Great performances at the latest auction of African art

Aspire Art Auctions and the French auction house Piasa collaborated for a second time to present a large scale auction of Modern and Contemporary African art – this time in Paris

A healthy and stable market

Peter Clarke, The Crossing, 1987 | SOLD FOR: €37,700 Piasa Auction
Peter ClarkeThe Crossing, 1987 | SOLD FOR: €37,700 Piasa Auction

The auction took place last night, Wednesday 24 June, and although the fallout of COVID-19 has resulted in extraordinary social and economic changes and challenges the world over, the resounding strength of the auction demonstrates that despite present difficulties, the art market remains robust. Although the bullish prices that have peppered the market on occasion have declined, and which often obscure readings of the sector’s actual standing, the sale’s sturdy results indicate a healthy market holding steady. Moreover, it demonstrates that art trading has resumed successfully, and that borders reopening and restrictions being relaxed globally bodes well for the future of the market.

Aspire and Piasa have put together an impressive collection of 173 artworks by 85 artists from 19 African countries that went under the hammer last night.  

At a time when the world seems to be larger and more divided than before, this auction is a crowning example of what can be accomplished in these trying times, especially by virtue of innovation and collaboration. Not only did it grow Aspire’s reach and status as the first auction house on the African continent to champion modern and contemporary art from Africa in Europe, but also provides an unmistakable reminder that top-quality art remains resilient in the face of adversity.

Top lots

William Kentridge, Electrical Industries (Rodchenko), Alphabet Coloré, 2007–2008 | SOLD FOR: €18,200 Piasa Auction
William Kentridge, Electrical Industries (Rodchenko), Alphabet Coloré, 2007–2008 | SOLD FOR: €18,200 Piasa Auction

The auction was led by the cover lot; William Kentridge’ s important 1989 drawing from Johannesburg, 2nd Greatest City after Paris (Soho Eating) which sold for €234,000. Another mixed media work by Kentridge Electrical Industries (Rodchenko), Alphabet Coloré sold for €18,200, almost three times its high estimate.

Joseph Ntensibe’s large-scale dreamlike depiction of tropical greenery stole the show when it sold for more than double its high estimate at an impressive €67,600, the second highest price achieved at auction for this artist. The Ugandan artist’s concern with ecology and the changing environment, and in particular the disappearing forests in rural Uganda, resonated with many bidders.

Joseph Ntensibe, Tropical garden 4, 2019 | SOLD FOR: €67,600 Piasa Auction
Joseph NtensibeTropical garden 4, 2019 | SOLD FOR: €67,600

Irma Stern’s exquisite 1943 portrait of Dora Sowden, the eccentric music and arts critic for the Johannesburg-based progressive newspaper The Rand Daily Mail during the 1940s and 1950s achieved €182,000. A rare and early bronze sculpture by Edoardo VillaFigure with Drapery, attracted substantial interest realising a stellar €54,600 – a historic record for a work by this artist sold in his native Europe.

Irma Stern, Portrait of Dora Sowden, 1943 | SOLD FOR: €182,000 Edoardo Villa, Figure with Drapery (Revised edition), 1953, cast in c.2000 | SOLD FOR: €54,600 Piasa Auction
Irma SternPortrait of Dora Sowden, 1943 | SOLD FOR: €182,000
Edoardo VillaFigure with Drapery (Revised edition), 1953, cast in c.2000 | SOLD FOR: €54,600

Records

A miner waits on the bank to go underground, City Deep Gold Mine, 1966 Platinum print on Arches Platine 310gm paper 32 3/10 × 27 1/5 in 82 × 69 cm Edition of 10 SOLD FOR: €32,500 Piasa Auction
David Goldblatt, A miner waits on the bank to go underground, City Deep Gold Mine, 1996 (2_3041) | SOLD FOR: €32,500

A new world auction record (for a single work) by David Goldblatt was achieved for a rare platinum print – A miner waits on the bank to go underground, City Deep Gold Mine, 1996 – which sold for €32,500.

Zimbabwean artists fared well too. Kudzanai Chiurai’s mixed media work Untitled VIII (Auto and the Workers Movement) sold for €22,100 and Fountain by painter Misheck Masamvu, an artist relatively new to the secondary market, sold for €20,800, toppling his previous auction record also set by Aspire.

Highlitghs

Chéri Samba, Lutte Contre Les Moustiques, 1999 | SOLD FOR: €58,500 Piasa auction
Chéri SambaLutte Contre Les Moustiques, 1999 | SOLD FOR: €58,500

Peter Clarke’s powerful triptych, The Crossing from 1987, impressed serious collectors and achieved a firm €37,700. This was the first time that a work by this prominent South African artist appeared on auction in mainland Europe.

Paintings by renowned Congolese painter Chéri Samba sold well – Lutte Contre Les Moustiques sparked competitive bidding and achieved €58,500 – almost double the high estimate.

Young starEddy Kamuanga Ilunga (from the DRC) proved that he remains one of the artists to watch when his impressive large scale painting sold for €50,700.

Contemporary African Art auction
On June 24th
Piasa Paris VIEW THE FULL RESULTS
118 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Paris, France

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About the author

Oceane Kinhouande

After graduating with a law degree from the University Panthéon-Assas Paris II, I joined ICART Paris to pursue an MBA in International Art Market. I am passionate about contemporary art from Africa and Afro-descendant cultures. I believe it is vital and important that contemporary art from Africa informs us about the multiplicity and nuances of its realities. It is also very important to me that this artistic expression be a vector of African and Afro-descendant history, identity and innovation.

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