Lot 3
Teresa Villegas (American, b. 1967). "El Mundo al Reves" ("The World Upside Down") nine linocuts on paper, 2010. Printer's proof. Hand-signed, dated, titled, and inscribed "P.P." beneath image with publisher's blind stamp. Printed by Segura Publishing Company, Mesa, Arizona. A riveting ensemble of nine printer's proof linocuts from the book "El Mundo Al Reves," written by Ilan Stavans and illustrated by Teresa Villegas, all printed on one sheet of paper. In an interview, Villegas describes this book and its images stating: "This project began as a question, as most everything that catches my eye. While traveling through Spain 10 years ago, while in Madrid, I came across an old local print shop that sold antique prints, hundreds upon hundreds of stacks of old anatomical relief prints and etchings, lithographs of religious prints, etc., and I came across a black and white relief print, a broadside titled 'El Mundo Al Reves' ('The World Upside Down')..." Size of each image: 5.5" W x 5.5" H (14 cm x 14 cm); of paper: 25" W x 26.25" H (63.5 cm x 66.7 cm)
"...that depicted approximately 24 different little scenes of interactions between animals and humans. Except, just as the title suggests, the roles were reversed. The hunting dog was the one holding the gun, while the human ran ahead to retrieve the falling duck from the sky. Or the woman, carrying a horse on her back, as the horse held a whip to her hindquarters. These vignettes also included a few words of text below the image for description for the scene such as ' El Perro Cazador' ('The Hunting Dog').
These simple folk-art illustrations were new to me, and I was so intrigued by their irony and historical value that it inspired me to buy the print and to inquire and learn as much as I could about it. The more questions I asked, the fewer the answers I found. Eventually I did find that the San Antonio Museum of Art had a few of these prints in its collection. It turns out that there were many different kinds of 'social code of conduct' broadsides printed, providing a look into the times of the late 19th century Spain. Some broadsides depicted celebrations of carnival, and another titled 'Vida de la Mujuer y Hombre Borrachos' ('Life of the Drunk Man and Woman'). Others taught the lives of saints. Most broadsides were placed in public areas to reinforce the communitys sense of right and wrong.
The invention of the printing press enabled advertising and social persuasion in a visual context; it was this early form that interested me. I had decided that I wanted to create my own version, and when the time was right it came to fruition. And I was fortunate enough to have Ilan Stavans collaborate with me to give the project another layer of depth, story-literature and interest...
...The deeper, bigger, underlying message is for us to become more aware of ourselves in our surrounding natural environments and how we relate to them. This theme began when I started the dialog in my head, 'When did man think that it was all right to take and use the Earth's resources without any regard for the Earth?' I take climate change seriously, and am thinking about how I personally can make changes to adapt to our situation. I guess you could say that Im a closet environmentalist."
Artist's statement: "To create, is a gift we are all born with.
Making art as a career choice was a natural decision for me, especially when I realized I wasnt going to cut it in organic chemistry.
'What do you like to do most?' my chemistry teacher asked me when I was 20. 'I love art, but Im not sure I can make a career of it.' 'Well, you're not going to make a career in chemistry by barely passing 200 level courses. At least you could be doing something that comes easier to you and that you love.'
So as I walked across campus I had a heart to heart conversation with myself, contemplating my shift from science to art. I loved science, but it didnt come easy to me. So I made a big request to the infinite sky above. 'Dear God - if indeed there is a god... If I'm going to do this art thing, I cant do this alone. Im begging you, to pleeeeease back-me-the-hell-up.' And you know what? She did." (source: artist's website)
Provenance: private Bozeman, Montana, USA collection, acquired before 2015; consignor was co-owner of Segura Publishing Company, Tempe, Arizona and acquired this piece directly from Segura during his tenure
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#191283
- Condition: In excellent overall condition. Hand-signed, dated, titled, and inscribed "P.P." beneath image with publisher's blind stamp.
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