The Lidless Eye

ADRIAN GHENIE (B. 1977)

The Lidless Eye

signed and dated 'Ghenie 2017' (on the reverse)

printed paper collage on printed paper

9 7/8 x 8 1/2 inches (25.1 x 21.6 cm)

framed: 11 3/8 x 10 5/16 inches (28.9 x 26.2 cm)

Executed in 2016-2017. This work is artist’s proof 11 from a series of 25 unique works, plus 12 artist’s proofs.

Published by Parkett Publishers, Zürich and New York for Parkett 99.

PROVENANCE:

Acquired directly from the publisher by the present owner

NOTES:

Born in Baia Mare, Romania in 1977, Adrian Ghenie is widely regarded as one of the most influential painters of his generation, known for his emotionally charged explorations that fuse personal experience with political and art historical narratives. Blurring the boundaries between abstraction and figuration, Ghenie’s dynamic canvases grapple with the possibilities of painting itself. His work often merges grand historical themes with contemporary imagery, drawing from personal memories, history, iconic artworks, film stills, and media found online. Through this layered approach, Ghenie not only addresses specific subjects but also questions how history and identity are visually constructed and remembered. 

In The Lidless Eye, part of a series of 25 unique works made for Parkett, Ghenie takes inspiration from a self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh, reinterpreting the well-known image through his distinctive, tactile technique. Using collage-like methods and printed paper, Ghenie distorts and abstracts Van Gogh’s likeness, evoking a psychological intensity that speaks to both the torment and genius of the historic artist. By channeling Van Gogh’s enduring emotional resonance through his own contemporary lens, Ghenie continues his broader inquiry into the vulnerabilities of the human condition. 

Ghenie's work is in the collection of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, United Kingdom; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Hammer Museum, University of California, Los Angeles; Long Museum, Shanghai; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; M HKA – Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Ghent; and Ueshima Museum, Tokyo.

Parkett offers a unique and comprehensive archive of contemporary art and artists from around the world. Its 101 volumes, published between 1984 and 2017, include direct collaborations with some of the most compelling artists of the time. Across the series, 270 artists’ portraits were presented, each accompanied by three to five texts written by renowned critics, authors and curators. In addition to these in-depth features, every collaborating artist created an editioned artwork specifically for Parkett, taking diverse forms such as prints, sculptures, installations, media works, paintings, and drawings.