The interconnectedness between popular culture and art is a dynamic relationship that has long been a significant source of inspiration and influence for artists. Incorporating famous iconic symbols, celebrities, and mass media references enables them to engage with a wider audience and comment on contemporary issues. It also provides them with a shared language and visual vocabulary that resonates with the public, allowing for a deeper understanding of the artwork. Often drawn from elements permeating contemporary culture, including cinema, music, politics, fashion, and technology, these works add a sense of vibrancy to the ever-evolving artistic landscape. In its upcoming 'Masterpieces and Editions' auction, AstaGuru will present a range of works that reflect the influence of popular culture on art. Here is a glimpse into these works.

THE SPRING AT EVIAN (Perrier) by Salvador Dali´

Best known for his thought-provoking and surreal works, Salvador Dalí was also a trendsetter in his understanding of the rise of mass media in the post-war era. He recognised the shifting perspectives of what it means to be an artist and started to delve into commercial pursuits with advertisements, posters and other visual designs. Dalí's artistic prowess and innovative thinking led him to collaborate with several brands for their commercial campaigns. These visually striking works were infused with unconventional symbolism and intricate details. The presented work titled 'The Spring At Evian' (Perrier) was created in 1968 as a model for an advertisement for Perrier water. Executed with ink and collage on gilt paper, the composition is adorned with placements of vibrantly coloured figurative collage cutouts strategically placed to draw attention. The use of vibrant colours, including purple, blue, red and black, further enhances the composition's surreal atmosphere.

LINCOLN CENTER TICKET (Ed : 500) by Andy Warhol

One of the most iconic figures of the Retro Era, Andy Warhol continues to be alive through his unique, quirky oeuvre. His exploration of consumerism, mass production, and celebrity culture gave birth to new artistic expressions that challenged the conventional boundaries defining art. In its upcoming 'Masterpieces & Editions' Auction, AstaGuru will showcase four works by the artist. The presented work is one of the posters that Warhol created to commemorate the Fifth New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, New York, in 1967. The vibrant colours and floral design were the first screen printed onto the surface, followed by the addition of black text.

JACQUELINE KENNEDY III (JACKIE III) 15 (Ed : 19/200) by Andy Warhol

Artist Andy Warhol attracted widespread attention with what is now known as his Death and Disaster pictures. The presented lot is a work based on Jackie Kennedy at the presidential funeral of her slain husband. Warhol drew inspiration for these screenprints from press images he gathered in the months that followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His selection focused on capturing iconic moments featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, just before and after she became a widow.

SKULL SPIN PAINTING by Damien Hirst

Spin paintings have become a defining hallmark of Damien Hirst's artistic practice. One of the earliest inspirations for the series came when he was merely nine years old. Watching John Noakes demonstrate spin painting through a motorised cardboard machine during a 1975 episode of the British show Blue Peter, Damien Hirst was transfixed. This fascinating childhood memory stayed with him, and it was during the early 1990s that he earnestly began to incorporate the technique into his oeuvre. The artist inaugurated the series at a London street fair in 1993, where he was dressed as a clown and invited the public to try their hands at the installed spin art stall. The subsequent year, he advanced this endeavour by installing a spin machine in his studio. The presented lot, executed with acrylic on paper in 2009, comes from a series of spin paintings where the artist again invited the public to collaborate.

THE NEWS (Ed : AP 6/20) by KAWS

Famous for his signature limited-edition toys, paintings, sculptures and prints using a variety of media, Brian Donnelly, or KAWS as he is professionally known, is a celebrated artist and designer in the Western contemporary art world. The presented work titled 'News' is a screenprint on wove paper executed in 2017. Similar content to his other series, such as Tension, these artworks stand out with their distinct circular composition. The News series showcases intimate views of KAWS' iconic cartoon characters, somewhat obscured by a vibrant blend of overlapping shapes and vivid, acidic hues. The observer is given the perception of peering into a magnified portion of a broader image, reflecting KAWS' fascination and exploration of abstraction.

Titled ‘Masterpieces and Editions,’ AstaGuru’s upcoming auction will present an exquisite medley of works from different periods and movements of modern art. The collection puts a spotlight on the emergence and impact of modern art in the 19th and 20th centuries with creations by masters, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Bernard Buffet, Marc Chagall, René Magritte, Joan Miro´, and David Hockney among others.  The finely curated selection also showcases creations by Surrealist master Salvador Dalí as well as works in three different mediums by Andy Warhol, the icon of Pop Art.  Also on offer is a range of signature style creations by globally renowned contemporary artists, including Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Fernando Botero, Anthony James, and KAWS. The auction is scheduled to be held on July 20-21, 2023.

About AstaGuru
AstaGuru was conceptualised in the year 2008 with the sole purpose of creating a safe and secure platform to conduct online auctions for Indian, Contemporary & Modern Art. The word AstaGuru is a thoughtful conjugation of ‘Asta’, of Italian origin, which translates to auction and ‘Guru’, Sanskrit connotation for ‘master’ that indicates our distinguished finesse at being the leaders of auctioneering art and artefacts in India as well as globally. With the world melting into one harmonious digital cosmos, AstaGuru has strived to successfully bridge the gap between prospective buyers and consignors by transcending the limitations of live auctions. AstaGuru imparts effortless transparency to the process of acquiring and selling art and rare collectables. Our diverse portfolio includes categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately and Vintage Cars. AstaGuru’s mobile app enables our esteemed bidders to follow and participate in our auctions seamlessly, and in real-time.

For more information, please log on to www.astaguru.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.