Modern and Contemporary Art: on-site and online auction on October 5

Mallet Japan Inc., Japan's leading auction house specialising in fine art, will hold two sales, a live-streaming auction "M-Live Auction" and a regular auction at the venue, on October 5, 2023 (Thursday) in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 

The following is a selection of the highlights from the 241 items lined up.

Auction Catalog

Yayoi Kusama's acrylic on canvas "Pumpkin" (LOT088) and "Work '65-1" (LOT099) by Takesada Matsutani, a representative of the second generation of Gutai artists, are featured on the cover of this sale's catalogue.

The work by Matsutani, in which acrylic, oil, and glue are used on a canvas exceeding 180cm in height, is especially noteworthy. The fluidity and forms of the glue evoke organic metaphors and sensuality, and stimulate the viewer's desire to "touch" them.

Previews

The exhibition will also feature nine works by Andy Warhol, whom everyone associates with Pop Art.

In the 1960s, already renowned, Warhol established his own company, Factory Additions, to enter the burgeoning printmaking market.

In 1967, he reproduced "Marilyn Monroe," which he had previously exhibited as a painting, again in silkscreen. This series of ten works was the first to be produced at the "Factory" and featured a more complex use of color than the paintings. "Marilyn Monroe" (LOT 008) is one of them, renowned for its inorganic and vacant expression, and striking contrast of silver and blue.

"Flowers (Hand-colored)" (LOT 005), printed in monochrome and hand-coloured, and "Grapes D.D. Edition" (LOT 009-012), the first series which diamond dust was applied to the plate, are also going under the hammer.

Mallet Japan

Next, Shigeki Matsuyama's "Portrait of dazzle #110" (LOT043) will be introduced for the first time in Mallet Japan.

Matsuyama started his career as an illustrator in 1998 and became a full-fledged artist in 2011. By tracing and arranging only the eyes of a real person on a fictional portrait, he expresses the uncertainty of information overflowing in today's society and the danger lurking in anonymity on the Internet.

Contrasted with the red background, this work has a distinctive presence.

M-Live Auction, open exclusively to online bidding (live or in advance), will also be held on October 5.

The lineup of about 90 works consists mainly of contemporary works, such as Ibuki Minami, Miyu Yamada, and others in the spotlight.

Mallet Japan has launched an in-house developed system, ONLINE LIVE BIDDING.

You can easily participate in auctions via your PC or smartphone.

After registering as an online member, you will need to apply on or before 6:00 p.m. one day before the auction day.

For more information on how to participate: https://mallet.co.jp/pdf/Onlinelivebidmanual_J

M-Live Auction

The online catalogue can be viewed by anyone from the top page of the website.

URL: https://mallet.co.jp/pdf/mallet_japan_catalog

Please check the conditions for all the lots at the pre-auction viewing and/or on the condition reports before bidding.

Auction Details

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2023

　　　　　　　 M-Live Auction to begin at 12:00 JST

　　　　　　　 Mallet Auction Modern & Contemporary Art Sale #231005 scheduled to start at 15:00 JST

Venue： Mallet Japan Auction House

Location： Nissei Hanzomon Bldg. 1F, 1-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Home Page： https://mallet.co.jp/

Inquiry: info@mallet.co.jp

Pre-auction viewing：

Date: Monday, October 2, 2023 10:00-18:00

　　　Tuesday, October 3, 2023 10:00-18:00

　　　Wednesday, October 4, 2023 10:00 - 15:00

*Please note that the closing time is different on the last day of the preview.

Mallet Japan's SNS accounts (Instagram / X (formerly Twitter) / Facebook / LINE) are releasing the latest information.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallet_japan/

X (former Twitter) : https://twitter.com/MALLET_JP

Facebook： https://www.facebook.com/Mallet-Japan-154943277895459/

LINE： https://lin.ee/FXIb6eq

Applications for absentee bidding and telephone bidding (excluding online advanced bidding) will be accepted until 18:00 JST on October 4, 2023 (Wednesday).

Free membership registration is available at any time on the Mallet Japan website.

Company Profile

Mallet Japan is one of Japan's leading auctioneers specializing in fine art.

We mainly deal in modern and contemporary artworks and hold 5-6 auctions a year at our own venue in Tokyo.

Since our establishment in 2005, we have been one of the first companies in Japan to expand our overseas market, and have built important bonds with our customers in Japan and around the world, from Europe and the United States to Asia.

We will continue to proudly deliver "reliable products" based on our management philosophy of "fairness and integrity".