CAROL RAMA – $115,000
Bricolage, 1966
I paint by instinct and I paint out of passion
And anger and violence and sadness
And a certain fetishism
And out of joy and melancholy together
And out of anger especially.
—Carol Rama
Carol Rama’s art moves between inspiration and madness, exulting in states of abjection and obsession. In Bricolage (1966), blotches and sprays of slate blue and gray ink stains hover in a galactic constellation on a sheet of paper. Strings of numbers, letters, and unintelligible symbols bookend the paint stains, turned at opposing 90-degree angles to the central cluster of the composition. Grafted atop the pooled pigment and glue are glass eyes manufactured for use in taxidermy. The artificial eyes suggest voyeurism and fetishism, implicating the viewer as both a purveyor and an object of its gaze.
Carol Rama’s Bricolage (1966) has also been selected to be a part of “Forever,” a new section within Frieze Masters. Curated by Sir Norman Rosenthal, this special section will explore the premise that great art is forever, selecting works that have stood—and in the curator’s mind will stand—the test of time. The room will feature 36 artworks from a selection of galleries participating in the fair.
CAROL RAMA
Bricolage
1966
Taxidermy eyes, vinyl glue, and ink on paper
12 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (32.4 x 45.1 cm)
©Archivio Carol Rama, Torino
Photo: Elisabeth Bernstein