Fatshimetrie: Artwork sells for R4 million
At the heart of the South African art ecosystem, there is a painting that has recently attracted the admiration and interest of collectors. Titled “Existential Doubt” and painted by renowned artist Marlene Dumas, this work was sold for a remarkable R4 million by Aspire Art in March. This impressive figure is a testament to the artistic and symbolic value of this painting imbued with emotion and existential reflections.
Marlene Dumas, an artist of South African origin now based in the Netherlands, created “Existential Doubt” between 1972 and 1975, before leaving her native country to settle in Europe. This painting, imbued with darkness and melancholy, reveals the beginnings of the style that characterizes the artist’s later work. Between additions and deletions, Dumas revisits his work, bringing new elements while preserving its deep essence.
During its sale, “Existential Doubt” found a buyer with a South African collector, thus highlighting the appeal and enthusiasm for local art within the collecting community. With a significant percentage of national buyers, the art market in South Africa thus finds a vibrant echo and well-deserved recognition.
This episode of the sale of “Existential Doubt” is part of a global artistic context in full evolution. If auction houses are going through a period of decline with a significant drop in results, the primary market, represented in particular by art galleries and fairs such as FNB Art Joburg, continues to play a vital role in the promotion of emerging and established artists.
Marelize van Zyl, Managing Director of Aspire Art, highlights the importance of the primary market in building artistic careers and promoting works. For her, the art market embodies a unique cultural economy, based on unique products and singular artistic trajectories.
Beyond economic fluctuations, the sale of “Existential Doubt” reflects the vitality and diversity of the South African artistic landscape. By investing in works such as those of Marlene Dumas, collectors participate in the preservation and promotion of local artistic heritage, thus placing South African art in a dynamic of international recognition.
In short, the story of “Existential Doubt” goes beyond the simple act of purchase to become the symbol of a creativity in perpetual evolution, an affirmed artistic identity and a shared passion for art in all its forms. This painting, full of emotions and questions, embodies in itself the richness and depth of South African art, a source of inspiration and reflection for present and future generations.