Lot 290
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Denham Clements (b. 1944, American). "Mechanic #2" acrylic on canvas, 1981. Signed and dated over the subject's left index finger. A monumental black and white painting from Denham Clements' "Mechanic" series in which Clements created four paintings that focused on the mesmerizing visual impact of a mechanic's hands working with machinery. According to the artist, "Inspiration often emerges unexpectedly. While visiting a mechanic friend, the oily, reflected shapes and patterns on his greasy hands literally jumped out at me and prompted the creation of the four paintings in the 'Mechanic' series. The work reveals a sometimes ignored paradox of realism; that when orchestrated in extreme detail, is often nothing more than a concentration of abstractions." Size: 43" L x 54" W (109.2 cm x 137.2 cm)
Interestingly, Denham Clements is best known for his photorealistic paintings of the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. So the Mechanic series stands out in his life's work. Clements spent over 10 years in Taos, New Mexico where he created a series of portraits of the "viejos" (the old ones) and later relocated to Albuquerque. Clements' artwork has been exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis; the Albuquerque Museum; US Ambassador's Residence, Lima, Peru; the Tucson Museum of Art; the National Museum of the Marine Corps; as well as collections throughout the US and abroad. In his words, "These good people, the old cowpoke, the Pueblo Indian, the local Hispanic icon, the wily backwoodsman, were nonetheless just ordinary people; but when rendered with such unflinching realism, their personalities, their lifes experiences seemed stamped on each face as if time had stopped for an instant, frozen. Their personal histories became subtly transparent and prompted a dialogue with the viewer, an uncharacteristic trait known to classic photorealism." Clements has honored his subjects in both black and white as well as color palettes - primarily on a large scale.
Provenance: private Denham Clements Collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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#169826
- Condition: Signed and dated by the artist over the subject's left index finger. There is some inactive insect damage to the vertical edge on the left which was stained and varnished by the artist; this did not effect the front of the canvas.
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