Sale: 433 / Post War I, June 11. 2016 in Munich Lot 938

 

938
Roman Opalka
Opalka 1965/1-Infinity. Detail 4734869-4737110, 1965.
Ink
Estimate:
€ 28,000 / $ 30,240
Sold:
€ 45,000 / $ 48,600

(incl. surcharge)
Opalka 1965/1-Infinity. Detail 4734869-4737110. 1965.
Ink on firm wove paper.
Verso signed, dated and titled. 32.7 x 23.9 cm (12.8 x 9.4 in), the full sheet.
[AP].
Opalka's meditative sequences of numbers are among the artist's most sought-after works on the international auction market (source: www.artnet.de).
We are grateful to Marie-Madeleine Gazeau-Opalka for her kind expert advice. The certificate was not at hand before going to printing.

PROVENANCE: Private collection Southern Germany (received directly from the artist).

In 1965 Roman Opalka began working on his main work of art "1965 / 1-Infinity", which would also make for his ongoing lifework up until today: Opalka continuously writes down numbers, beginning upper left and ending in lower right. He starts with the number one, the aim is infinite, meaning that if the artist’s powers lasted it could go on for ever. Every filled sheet is a ‘detail‘ of this work. It is his attempt to make eternity perceivable. Every new painting or drawing continues with the next number. Through the hands' special duct and the barely perceivable transformations of the ground, a chronological progression of the work, regardless of the numbers, emerges.



938
Roman Opalka
Opalka 1965/1-Infinity. Detail 4734869-4737110, 1965.
Ink
Estimate:
€ 28,000 / $ 30,240
Sold:
€ 45,000 / $ 48,600

(incl. surcharge)