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The definition of ‘art’ traditionally keeps its many branches of music, painting, literature and dance — to name but a few — distinct. However, with sheets of classical music framed as art, performative dance responding to the projection of paint pigments, or most recently, the combination of music and visual art within one three-dimensional object, fusion has become the trend.
As part of a new visual arts initiative from the world-renowned piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons in support of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), the Walker Art Center and the Studio Museum in Harlem, Los Angeles-based fine artist Mark Bradford and pianist and composer Robert Glasper have paired up to create Apollo/Still Shining, offered in our Post War and Contemporary Art Afternoon Session on 11 May at Christie's New York (Estimate: $400,000-600,000).
On the Steinway Spirio — a most exceptional player piano that reproduces the nuance and power of a live performance, in this case the passion of Glasper’s composition Still Shining — Bradford has reimagined the iconic instrument. Using the Steinway piano as his base, Bradford alters its presentation with bleach and paper to create his ‘Apollo’. The chemical reaction on the finish captures the moment of conversion and change, effecting a golden tone that seemingly makes the instrument fiercely glow.
Where black meets white and visual meets sound, Bradford and Glasper’s artistic union subtly comments on the subject of race and conflict while making a clear statement on the expectations of art. Art knows no boundaries and has no limitations.
Christie’s New York is proud to present the manifestation of their collaboration during the Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale on 11 May.
Excerpts from ‘Art in the Twenty-First Century: Paradox’ and ‘Mark Bradford: Paper’, courtesy of ART21; ‘Mark Bradford: Layers of Violence’, courtesy of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark; and music video by Robert Glasper performing Golden Lady (1 Mic 1 Take). © 2013 Blue Note Records, courtesy of Second Son Productions