Find Lots

• Auction House:
  Bonhams Australia
• Sale Name:
  Sherman | 100
• Sale Date:
  11 May 2022 ~ 5pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  36
• Lot Description:
  Greg Semu
  (New Zealand, born 1971)
  Earning My Stripes #1, 2015
  pigment print on Hanemühle photo baryta, edition: 1 of 10
  94.0 x 125.0cm (37 x 49 3/16in). (image size)
• Provenance:
  Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; The Gene & Brian Sherman Collection, Sydney
• Exhibited:
  Middle of Now | Here, Inaugural Honolulu Biennale, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2017; Sydney Contemporary, Alcaston Gallery, 10 September - 13 September 2015; Personal Structures / Crossing Borders, Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy, 9 May – 22 November 2015 (another example); Collection+: Greg Semu, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF), Sydney, 7 October – 10 December 2016
• Notes:
  Greg Semu's 2016 SCAF Collection+ exhibition was a personal highlight and a much-needed extension, knowledge-wise, of my earlier encounters with contemporary art from the Pacific, specifically Samoa, via my interest in Yuki Kihara's practice. Whilst Greg was born in New Zealand, his spiritual and cultural links remain firmly anchored in his Samoan heritage. The Tatau-covered headless figures in these important images mesh with Brian and my longstanding interest in portraiture. Mike Parr's self-portrait project dissects his selfhood in compelling ways, Ah Xian's 1999 China China bust explores portraiture via porcelain, Shaun Gladwell's performative work often focuses on his moving body in urban or natural landscapes. Stelarc's pierced-by-hooks skin references his attempt to amplify corporeal potential, whilst Greg Semu uses body scarification to signal his people's rich cultural heritage, significantly impacted by colonial intervention.At once a nod to body adornment, (coinciding with my own deep interest in artist-created jewellery), fashion (an interest which Greg and I share), and most importantly, a Samoan coming- of-age cultural practice, these decorated-by-painful incision sophisticated nude male self portraits clearly speak to viewers at multiple levels. Global interest in his work is, I believe, bound to rise and rise as diverse community creative practices continue to be uncovered, explored and globally foregrounded.The Pe'a is Semu's most serious piece of self-invention, but his entire persona is wilfully exotic, from his wedge-shaped haircut to his upturned moustache. He embraces theatricality as both artist and model, often making himself the focus of his ambitious photo-compositions. Far from playing the savage, he might be better described as a dandy. John McDonald, Sydney Morning Herald, November 23, 2016. Dr Gene Sherman
• Estimate:
  A$2,000 - 4,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

  Can't see the realised price? Upgrade your subscription now!

• Category:
  Art

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.