23/10/17 - As every year, Sotheby’s presents an extraordinary selling exhibition to attract buyers and collectors of monumental art. It takes place in the gardens of Chatsworth Castle, residence of the Dukes of Devonshire, in England, built 450 years ago. This time the exhibition "American Sculpture: Beyond Limits" blends the English landscape with the industrial aesthetic of the American artists of the past centuries, like Robert Indiana, Richard Serra, Julian Schnabel and several others. Here a tour around the gardens and pieces by these iconic sculptures.

One Through Zero, by Robert Indiana (1991)

A series of numbers by Robert Indiana occupy the rear lawn of the Castle. Each number has a especial meaning related to human life: zero, for example, is death. Since its creation, these digits were made in different sizes and colors, as an expression of a culture excessively interested in the object. In display here are the numbers 0 to 9 in corten steel, in contrast to the bright green of the surroundings.

Golem, by Julian Schnabel (1986)

Joe, by Julian Schnabel (1941)

Bronze

Si Tacuisses, by Julian Schnabel

Gradiva, by Julian Schnabel (1951)

Painted bronze

With the castle as background we see an artwork by Julian Schnabel, who has 5 pieces in this exhibition. These totemic structures, a mixture of different civilizations, look rather similar. They were made after several trips Schnabel took to Europe and America, where he found similarities between the different cities he visited. These shapes are the results of those journeys and, to our Western eyes, have something religious in them.

Irregular Progression (Griesdorn), by Sol Lewitt (2001)

Material: concrete  

Three-Sided Pyramid, by Sol Lewitt (1991)

Materials: enamel on aluminium

In front of a fountain and Indiana's numbers there's a conceptual piece by Sol Lewitt. It's a group of concrete blocks, placed as if forming a building. In the other end of the garden, there's a triangular white form. It refers to simplification or geometry, but also to past civilization, specially the Egyptian.

Curvae in Curvae, by Beverly Pepper (1922)

Materials: corten steel

One of the walking paths displays Beverly Pepper's sculpture. The piece, with its curves, reveals its femininity. In spite of the thickness of the material, it looks light, as if it could be carried away by the wind. On the other hand, its rusticity makes it look rather antique.

Lock, v=by Richard Serra (1976- 77)

Material: rolled steel in 5 parts

As if cutting the landscape, Richard Serra's sculpture is the largest of the exhibition. Placed behind the castle, it challenges the visitors and the surrounding space. Serra moves away from traditional conventions in an imaginative way, always involving the spectators. "Lock" places visitors between two very different worlds: the warmth of Nature against the coldness of industrial steel.

Untitled, by Joel Shapiro (2011-2017)

Material: painted bronze

Untitled, by Joel Shapiro

Balance, movement, agility, challenge to gravity and a human-figure obsession. All that marks Joel Shapiro's artworks. Near a maze or under a waterfall, both pieces seem to want to escape from what contains them. Maybe this is why the artist referred to them as “psychological shapes”.

Leaning fork with meatball and spaghetti II, by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje Van Bruggen (1994)

Material: polyurethane-painted fibreglass

Claes Oldenburg's and Coosje Van Bruggen's piece is the only one displays indoors, in the flower greenhouse. As with all Oldenburg's works, this one is also playful, fun, exaggerated and with shinny colors, as a true Pop art example. Humor and exuberance in this portrait of the American consumer society.

This exhibition is an unforgettable experience because of the pieces and the venue. As usual, an impeccable selling strategy for Sotheby's demanding audience.