Michael Bastow (1943) - Telechat
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Selected by Giulia Couzzi
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Estimate € 900 - € 1,100
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Description from the seller
Michael Bastow (1943) – Happy Birthday Henri | Unique ink work | Erotic parody of Téléchat characters | Dedicated to Henri Xhonneux
Artist: Michael Bastow ( 1943 )
Dimensions: 65 x 50 cm
Sold unframed
Medium: Unique ink on textured paper (brush application)
Signature: Signed by the artist on the bottom right + dedication “happy birthday Henri” on the bottom left
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels
Condition: Presence of two light horizontal folds. This will be invisible once framed by you.
Description:
Unique, highly personal work created by Michael Bastow for his friend Henri Xhonneux, creator and director of the cult Téléchat program (1983-1986).
This large ink composition depicts an explicitly erotic and surreal parody of Téléchat’s two main characters: Groucha, the journalist cat, and Lola, the ostrich co-host. The two anthropomorphic figures are here transformed into a dynamic and raw scene, in a spirit that is both humorous and grotesque, characteristic of the Parisian art circle of the 1980s.
The sheet bears in the bottom left the handwritten dedication “happy birthday Henri.” It is signed by the artist on the bottom right.
The verso of the work reveals a complete ghost of the composition, a sign of heavily loaded ink applied to a beautiful textured paper with a deep wash.
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels.
Context and friendship between the two artists:
In the 1980s, Michael Bastow settled in Paris and quickly joined the vibrant artistic milieu led by Roland Topor and the Téléchat team. His partner at the time was the sister of Henri Xhonneux’s partner. The two men mingled and shared the same creative circle. This work, made in a single session, constitutes a private birthday gift, both conspiratorial, irreverent and deeply personal.
Biography of Michael Bastow:
Michael Bastow was born in 1943 in Bideford (England). As a child, he emigrated with his family to Australia. He studied architecture at the University of Melbourne before working as a set designer in the film industry.
From the late 1970s, he devoted himself fully to drawing and painting. Based in Paris in the early 1980s, he developed a body of work centered on the sensual female nude, which he primarily treated in pastel and charcoal on high-quality papers.
Close to Roland Topor, he participated in the Parisian artistic life of that period while maintaining a personal and intimate body of work. His work is held in several private collections in Europe and Australia.
Technique: Unique ink work on textured paper (brush application)
Signature: Signed by the artist on the bottom right + dedication “happy birthday Henri” on the bottom left
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels
Condition: Presence of two light horizontal folds. This will be invisible once framed by you.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateMichael Bastow (1943) – Happy Birthday Henri | Unique ink work | Erotic parody of Téléchat characters | Dedicated to Henri Xhonneux
Artist: Michael Bastow ( 1943 )
Dimensions: 65 x 50 cm
Sold unframed
Medium: Unique ink on textured paper (brush application)
Signature: Signed by the artist on the bottom right + dedication “happy birthday Henri” on the bottom left
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels
Condition: Presence of two light horizontal folds. This will be invisible once framed by you.
Description:
Unique, highly personal work created by Michael Bastow for his friend Henri Xhonneux, creator and director of the cult Téléchat program (1983-1986).
This large ink composition depicts an explicitly erotic and surreal parody of Téléchat’s two main characters: Groucha, the journalist cat, and Lola, the ostrich co-host. The two anthropomorphic figures are here transformed into a dynamic and raw scene, in a spirit that is both humorous and grotesque, characteristic of the Parisian art circle of the 1980s.
The sheet bears in the bottom left the handwritten dedication “happy birthday Henri.” It is signed by the artist on the bottom right.
The verso of the work reveals a complete ghost of the composition, a sign of heavily loaded ink applied to a beautiful textured paper with a deep wash.
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels.
Context and friendship between the two artists:
In the 1980s, Michael Bastow settled in Paris and quickly joined the vibrant artistic milieu led by Roland Topor and the Téléchat team. His partner at the time was the sister of Henri Xhonneux’s partner. The two men mingled and shared the same creative circle. This work, made in a single session, constitutes a private birthday gift, both conspiratorial, irreverent and deeply personal.
Biography of Michael Bastow:
Michael Bastow was born in 1943 in Bideford (England). As a child, he emigrated with his family to Australia. He studied architecture at the University of Melbourne before working as a set designer in the film industry.
From the late 1970s, he devoted himself fully to drawing and painting. Based in Paris in the early 1980s, he developed a body of work centered on the sensual female nude, which he primarily treated in pastel and charcoal on high-quality papers.
Close to Roland Topor, he participated in the Parisian artistic life of that period while maintaining a personal and intimate body of work. His work is held in several private collections in Europe and Australia.
Technique: Unique ink work on textured paper (brush application)
Signature: Signed by the artist on the bottom right + dedication “happy birthday Henri” on the bottom left
Provenance: Anne de Clippel Collection, Brussels
Condition: Presence of two light horizontal folds. This will be invisible once framed by you.
Seller's Story
About SR Fine Art
With nearly 28 years of experience in the art market, I am passionate about rediscovering artists’ studios and bringing their works to a wide audience on Catawiki.
I specialize in Belgian and European modern and contemporary art. My flagship collection is the studio archive of Robert Detheux (nearly 1,500 works on paper). I also offer surrealist drawings, beautiful abstract paintings from the 1950s, magnificent nude photographs by Michel Pinel, contemporary paintings, Cobra compositions, and works by Marcus de Vestele, Gundi Falk, René Mels, Eugène Eechaut and many others.
From intimate drawings to large formats, there is something for every taste and every budget. The vast majority of my auctions start at 1 € with no reserve price, giving everyone the chance to acquire unique pieces.
Every shipment is prepared with the utmost care using professional museum-quality packaging to ensure perfect condition upon arrival.
Join my growing community of satisfied clients and follow my new auctions to discover rare works from these exceptional studios.
Thank you for your trust and happy bidding!
SR Fine Art
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Artist
Michael Bastow (1943)
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Telechat
Technique
Mixed media
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Condition
Good condition
Height
65 cm
Width
50 cm
Depiction/theme
Pop Culture
Style
Surrealism
Period
1980-1990
Sold by
