Through the Forest installation shot, 2010, Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, via hauser & wirth
Vancouver-based conceptual artist Rodney Graham's interest in the relationships between texts, literature and music and art were on full view in "Through The Forest," his 2010 mid-career retrospective at the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona and the Museum für Gegenwartskunst in Basel. And while I knew about his nice transformation of a brass Donald Judd wall sculpture into a bookshelf for the writings of Dr. Freud, his children's trolleys were new to me, and even more awesome.
These enameled steel mini-Judds on wheels each take their color cues from the single, slim Dr. Seuss book encased within. The Children's Trolleys were originally shown in 1993 in Antwerp, and five were included in the retrospective, which was all the adorable attention they needed to start rolling their way onto the auction block.
Last year, Children's Trolley (If I Ran The Zoo) [above] sold at Christie's London for £31,250, nearly $50,000.
And next week, Children's Trolley (On Beyond Zebra) is up at Christie's with the same estimate. Which, at those prices, you'd want to fabricate a replica rather than have the kid push those things into the wall.
When ordering, remember to start with the dimensions of the Classic Seuss editions, 8.3 x 11.4 inches and work your way out to 16½ x 16 7/8 x 8 3/8in. (42 x 43 x 21cm). Send making of photos!
Feb. 15, 2012 Lot 346: Rodney Graham, Children's Trolley (If I Ran The Zoo), est. £25-35,000 [christies.com]
