.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Siqueiros' life and work were fraught with complications, his artistic life cannot be separated from the political nor vice versa, his art rests in his politics and ideals, even his brushstrokes carry the forcefulness of his convictions. The actual painted surface of the murals that Siqueiros created are only the final realization of an incredible struggle, though many of the murals depict Mexican history the making of the murals is history as well. The ambitious sculpture murals that Siqueiros wanted to create on the Rectoría at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma den México were not free from the struggle and were nearly not completed despite an arduous battle of red tape and political scheming.
The murals at the University were physically three dimensional, with protruding shapes covered not in paint but ceramic mosaic. The enormous south wall of the Rectoría was visible from the highway and thus the image conceived there was to be viewed from a moving vehicle. Speed and movement were consistent concerns in Siqueiros work and here he was able to utilize not just the plane of the mural but also that of the viewer. The present lot is the detailed scale study he created on the roof of his studio in order to work out the impressive structure and dynamism of the monumental piece.
This painting is part of the National Heritage of Mexico and cannot be removed from that country. Accordingly, it is offered for sale in New York from the catalogue and will not be available in New York. Delivery of the painting will be made in Mexico in compliance with local requirements. Prospective buyers may contact Christie's Representatives in Mexico for an appointment to view the work.
The murals at the University were physically three dimensional, with protruding shapes covered not in paint but ceramic mosaic. The enormous south wall of the Rectoría was visible from the highway and thus the image conceived there was to be viewed from a moving vehicle. Speed and movement were consistent concerns in Siqueiros work and here he was able to utilize not just the plane of the mural but also that of the viewer. The present lot is the detailed scale study he created on the roof of his studio in order to work out the impressive structure and dynamism of the monumental piece.
This painting is part of the National Heritage of Mexico and cannot be removed from that country. Accordingly, it is offered for sale in New York from the catalogue and will not be available in New York. Delivery of the painting will be made in Mexico in compliance with local requirements. Prospective buyers may contact Christie's Representatives in Mexico for an appointment to view the work.