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Lot Essay
This work will be included in the Robert Indiana catalogue raisonné being prepared by Simon Salama-Caro.
The following two paintings by Robert Indiana were created for a revival of Arnold Weinsteins play Red Eye of Love, which was performed in North Haven, Maine in the summer of 1998. Indiana had previously created works for the stage and is intensly active in the cultural life of Maine. For Red Eye of Love, Indiana was commissioned by the director, John Wulp, a friend of his from the area when he lived on Coenties Slip--the artist ultimately donated the paintings to the Watermans Community Center, to benefit their capital campaign.
The play follows the story of a man who dreamed of creating an eight story department store of meat, the largest of its kind in America, which served as a metaphor for America itself. The themes of commerce and consumption were a perfect fit for Indianas work, which often uses the words EAT and DIE to convey similar messages. Indiana created eight canvases in his signature signature sign style, advertising: MEAT (2), BEEF, CHOP, LAMB, PORK, RIBS and VEAL.
The following two paintings by Robert Indiana were created for a revival of Arnold Weinsteins play Red Eye of Love, which was performed in North Haven, Maine in the summer of 1998. Indiana had previously created works for the stage and is intensly active in the cultural life of Maine. For Red Eye of Love, Indiana was commissioned by the director, John Wulp, a friend of his from the area when he lived on Coenties Slip--the artist ultimately donated the paintings to the Watermans Community Center, to benefit their capital campaign.
The play follows the story of a man who dreamed of creating an eight story department store of meat, the largest of its kind in America, which served as a metaphor for America itself. The themes of commerce and consumption were a perfect fit for Indianas work, which often uses the words EAT and DIE to convey similar messages. Indiana created eight canvases in his signature signature sign style, advertising: MEAT (2), BEEF, CHOP, LAMB, PORK, RIBS and VEAL.