Posted on 06/20/2005 10:37:43 AM PDT by LibWhacker
LONDON - Monkey business proved to be a lucrative pastime Monday when paintings by Congo the chimpanzee sold at auction for more than 14,000 pounds (US$25,620; euro20,917).
The collection of three tempera paintings — all abstract — were auctioned at Bonhams in London alongside works by impressionist master Renoir and pop art provocateur Andy Warhol.
But while Warhol and Renoir's work didn't sell, bidders lavished attention on Congo's paintings.
An American bidder named Howard Hong, who described himself as an "enthusiast of modern and contemporary painting," purchased the lot of paintings for 14,400 pounds (US$26,352; euro21,515) including buyer's premium.
The sale price surpassed predictions that priced the paintings between US$1,000 (euro813) and US$1,500 (euro1,220).
"We had no idea what these things were worth," said Howard Rutkowski, director of modern and contemporary art at Bonhams.
"We just put them in for our own amusement."
Congo, born in 1954, produced about 400 drawings and paintings between the ages of 2 and 4. He died in 1964 of tuberculosis.
His artwork provoked reactions ranging from scorn to skepticism among critics of the time, but painter Pablo Picasso is reported to have hung a Congo painting on his studio wall after receiving it as a gift.
"There's no precedent for things like this having been sold before," Rutkowski said.
Everyone -- including chimps -- really will have their 15 minutes of fame.
Ping.
I'm relieved they let us know they were abstract paintings; I would have simply assumed they were all Catskill landscapes in imitation of the Hudson River School.
My dog's art is exclusively of the bauwauhaus school.
The great thing about abstract is they don't have to wait for the "100th monkey." Any chimp will do.
The chimp's got more talent.
Personally I like his cubist work, and looking to acquire one soon to add to my gallery with other mammal cubist art.
maybe to the chimp they are not abstract?
Has anyone interviewed the chimp to ask what his style is?
Years ago, I lived with walking distance of the National Gallery of Art in DC. I used to love to go in and sit quietly and listen to all the art "critics" just gush about the meaning of the modern art. It just made me laugh. I knew I didn't know much about art, but they didn't!
Lol, I was there a long time ago and broke out in loud laughter when I came upon an art professor explaining the artistic nuances of a 6' x 6' unframed white canvas that occupied one wall. Boy, you could've cut the air with a knife. But it was totally absurd; I couldn't help myself.
Will dogs only get 2 1/7 minutes of fame?
They tried, but the chimp flew into a rage at the insult to his creativity, and went on a poo-flinging rampage.
The world mourns a profound and tormented genius cut short.
What treasures have not been created due to his premature passing?
Alas, we will never know.
You're good! And QUICK, too.
LOL
A 1957 Congo painting up for auction. Photo: AFP
I found one!
And thus was born yet another masterpiece.
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