Bonhams first Modern and Contemporary African Art Sale on April 8th, made four world records for African artists and cast a spotlight on some of the African artists who are making a worldwide reputation.
A price of £66,000 was achieved for Benedict Enwonwu’s `Negritude’ (Nigerian, 1917-1994), a rise of £40,000 over his last best price, also achieved at a Bonhams sale in December 2008 when his Underwater Still Life Made £19,200.
The sale also produced a world record price for a William Kentridge print, lot 42, `Couple’ which made £20,000.
The Ghanaian artist El Anatsui also had a world record result for his sculpture, lot 55, Sculpture 2 (Helicopter) which made £30,000, more than doubling is pre-sale estimate of £8,000 to £12,000.
Another effect of this sale was to catapult a little known Mozambican artist, Malangatana Ngwenya, into the spotlight with his own world record price of £9,600 against an estimate of £2,000 to £3,000, with the work ‘Death of a man in prison’. This new trail-blazing sale at Bonhams made a total of £352,080.
Giles Peppiatt, Head of African Art at Bonhams said after the sale: “This was always going to be a brave effort, launching a new art sale in the midst of the worst economic recession we have had for 80 years. But the result bolsters our belief that there is a bright future for modern and contemporary African artists.”
“It is a great privilege to be part of the impetus that brings new talent to the world market, and that was one of the results of yesterday’s sale. As a result of this auction, the fist of its kind in the UK, we now have a much clearer understanding of which African artists are the ones to watch.”
Buyers came from the ex-pat Nigerian Community in Britain as well as from South African, British, American, French, German, Italian, Belgian and Irish buyers. Works of art for this sale came from South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Benin.
A private view reception for this new initiative, which attracted 400 guests, was held on April 7th in partnership with the prestigious African financial institution, Access Bank. The involvement of Access Bank signals the advent of a serious and groundbreaking African Art initiative in Europe and internationally.
http://www.bonhams.com/africanow