Mihai Stänescu (1939-2018) - BRAILLE ALPHABET
00
days
21
hours
41
minutes
22
seconds
Current bid
€ 75
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Giulia Couzzi
Master’s in culture and arts innovation, with a decade in 20th-21st century Italian art.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
 | €75 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €3 | |
 | €2 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 141835 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
About the artwork: "Braille Alphabet"
This work from 1980 stems from Stanescu's most productive and at the same time most dangerous artistic period. It is a striking example of how his graphic satire masterfully combined with conceptual art.
• Visual metaphor: The work shows a detailed charcoal- or pencil-drawing of female forms (breasts) with columns of palpable braille dots between them. It combines the sensory aspects of the human body with the sensory aspect of the braille alphabet.
• The deeper meaning: In the context of communist Romania in 1980, this work contains a strong political and social double bottom. Conceptual art with braille was at the time often used by critics and artists as a metaphor for social blindness and censorship. It suggests that truth in society should no longer be openly pronounced or visually shown: one must grope blindly to understand reality. At the same time, it plays with the contrast between the forbidden/intimate (the nude) and the clinical, educational character of an alphabet chart.
About the artist: Mihai Stănescu
(1939-2018)
Mihai Stănescu was one of the most respected and bold Romanian caricaturists and conceptual artists of the 20th century.
• Resistance through humor: In the 70s and 80s, when Romania suffered under the strict communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, Stănescu pushed the boundaries of censorship with his work. Where other artists bowed to state propaganda, he delivered sharp, subtle criticism of the absurd daily life, food shortages, and lack of freedom.
• International protection: Because his albums and books at home were regularly confiscated by the authorities, he secretly sent his work to international cartoon festivals in the West. In 1982 he won a prestigious gold medal in Japan (organized by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper). This international fame gave him a degree of protection: the regime dared to arrest him less for fear of foreign criticism.
The work has a minimally visible crease on the right side. This can be pressed out.
The work will be well packaged and sent by registered mail.
About the artwork: "Braille Alphabet"
This work from 1980 stems from Stanescu's most productive and at the same time most dangerous artistic period. It is a striking example of how his graphic satire masterfully combined with conceptual art.
• Visual metaphor: The work shows a detailed charcoal- or pencil-drawing of female forms (breasts) with columns of palpable braille dots between them. It combines the sensory aspects of the human body with the sensory aspect of the braille alphabet.
• The deeper meaning: In the context of communist Romania in 1980, this work contains a strong political and social double bottom. Conceptual art with braille was at the time often used by critics and artists as a metaphor for social blindness and censorship. It suggests that truth in society should no longer be openly pronounced or visually shown: one must grope blindly to understand reality. At the same time, it plays with the contrast between the forbidden/intimate (the nude) and the clinical, educational character of an alphabet chart.
About the artist: Mihai Stănescu
(1939-2018)
Mihai Stănescu was one of the most respected and bold Romanian caricaturists and conceptual artists of the 20th century.
• Resistance through humor: In the 70s and 80s, when Romania suffered under the strict communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, Stănescu pushed the boundaries of censorship with his work. Where other artists bowed to state propaganda, he delivered sharp, subtle criticism of the absurd daily life, food shortages, and lack of freedom.
• International protection: Because his albums and books at home were regularly confiscated by the authorities, he secretly sent his work to international cartoon festivals in the West. In 1982 he won a prestigious gold medal in Japan (organized by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper). This international fame gave him a degree of protection: the regime dared to arrest him less for fear of foreign criticism.
The work has a minimally visible crease on the right side. This can be pressed out.
The work will be well packaged and sent by registered mail.
Details
Artist
Mihai Stänescu (1939-2018)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
BRAILLE ALPHABET
Technique
Charcoal, Mixed media
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Romania
Year
1980
Condition
Good condition
Height
21 cm
Width
29.7 cm
Depiction/theme
Nude
Style
Conceptual art
Period
1980-1990
