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Ursa Major & Taurus: Pavillion Fragments from the Starry Vault by General Idea

Artwork by General Idea, Ursa Major & Taurus: Pavillion Fragments from the Starry Vault

General Idea
Ursa Major & Taurus: Pavillion Fragments from the Starry Vault

colour relief print
signed, titled, dated 1983 and numbered 44/100 in the lower margin
22.75 x 30.75 ins ( 57.8 x 78.1 cms ) ( sheet )

Auction Estimate: $2,000.00$1,800.00 - $2,000.00

Price Realized $1,610.00
Sale date: June 22nd 2016

Provenance:
A Prominent Canadian Corporate Collection
A colour print of the commissioned mural from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Ursa Major (Big Dipper) and Taurus (The Bull) constellations are depicted in General Idea's pop aesthetic, emphasizing the form of the animals highlighted with gold foil on an inky blue background. Interestingly, Ursa Major Mining and Taurus Minerals, a subsidiary of China Guandang Nuclear Power Corporation, were two major mining companies in Canada at the time of the commission and subsequent prints. While gold and other valuable minerals are trading as commodities on global stock exchanges, it has a history of affecting the value of subsequent currencies on the stock exchange. For Canada, with a history of gold and mineral mining—most recently the significant contribution to the global economy being the exportation of uranium—the figures in the print coupled with the gold metallic foil give a nod to Canada's role in the global economy appropriately situated in the nations main trading centre.

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General Idea
(1967 - 1994)

HighlightsWatch Artist

The General Idea artist collective was formed in 1969 between A.A. Bronson, Felix Partz, and Jorge Zantal. Their distinctive pop aesthetic was designed to provoke as a post-modern critique of the art world, the acceptance of traditional practices, the representation of the abject of society, and an exploration into the role of form and media in shaping culture. Their work largely responds to the AIDS crisis of the 1980's and the subsequent treatment of individuals affected in society.

The collective has gained national and international recognition including representation at the Paris, Sydney, Sao Paulo, and Venice Biennales as well as Documenta 7. In their 25 year history, they have had 123 solo shows and 149 group shows. In 2011, the Art Gallery of Ontario held a retrospective of their work over the course of their history.

In 1994 both Partz and Zantal passed away from AIDS-related complications. Bronson continues to work as an artist while also curating and educating.