Details

Provenance

Kristin Hjellegjerdge, 2014 Acquired from the above by present owner

Exhibited

London, Saatchi Gallery, Pangaea II: New Art from Africa and Latin America , 2015, illustrated in the catalogue p. 12 Condition Examination under UV shows no evidence of retouch or repair. To the back of the figure, specks of white paint appear to be artist intent, as visible in the catalogue illustration. Overall, the work appears to be in good condition. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE." Catalogue Note No 2 background 5 is part of the Background series by Ethiopian artist Dawit Abebe, which features a range of subjects stiffly positioned with their backs to the viewer. Set in an urgently orange coloured scene, the subject of this work holds a note written in Amharic including the numbers 2 and 93626. The notes are a collage of recycled documents which the artist gathers in Addis Ababa. These reused texts are a combination of old invoices, newspapers reports, and ancient Amharic records discarded by government offices. In examining these texts, the viewer observes fragments of the complex socio-political histories in Ethiopia. Dawit Abebe’s work has been acquired by the Barjeel Art Foundation, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation, the Frank Cohen Collection, the Carole Server and Oliver Frankel Collection, and the Saatchi Gallery Collection.

Catalog summary

Dawit Abebe No. 2 Background 5 signed and dated 2006 (lower centre) mixed media painting 150 by 130cm., 59 by 51in. Painted in 2014 Provenance Kristin Hjellegjerdge, 2014 Acquired from the above by present owner Exhibited London, Saatchi Gallery, Pangaea II: New Art from Africa and Latin America , 2015, illustrated in the catalogue p. 12 Condition Examination under UV shows no evidence of retouch or repair. To the back of the figure, specks of white paint appear to be artist intent, as visible in the catalogue illustration. Overall, the work appears to be in good condition. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE." Catalogue Note No 2 background 5 is part of the Background series by Ethiopian artist Dawit Abebe, which features a range of subjects stiffly positioned with their backs to the viewer. Set in an urgently orange coloured scene, the subject of this work holds a note written in Amharic including the numbers 2 and 93626. The notes are a collage of recycled documents which the artist gathers in Addis Ababa. These reused texts are a combination of old invoices, newspapers reports, and ancient Amharic records discarded by government offices. In examining these texts, the viewer observes fragments of the complex socio-political histories in Ethiopia. Dawit Abebe’s work has been acquired by the Barjeel Art Foundation, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation, the Frank Cohen Collection, the Carole Server and Oliver Frankel Collection, and the Saatchi Gallery Collection.