Renowned as the most expensive living artist of 2013 for his “Balloon Dog” sculpture, Jeff Koons now is facing various challenges this year. Jeff Koons, an artist who is good at employing readymade items and sexual figures to create works, continues to use the readymade concept in his recent works “Gazing Ball” by integrating his ideas into the well-known classical paintings.
After Jeff Koons rose to fame, the unknown challenges have followed him. In early April of this year, Koons and Gagosian Gallery were unable to deliver the works to the collector Steven Tananbaum, and then Steven Tananbaum sued them. The collector purchased three sculptures, "Balloon Venus Hohlen Fels (Magenta)", "Eros" and "Diana", which were serially paid for in 2014, 2016, and 2017, respectively. The collector has paid over $13 million for the sculptures but didn't receive them in the scheduled date. Although the Gagosian Gallery replied that the completion dates for the works are only estimated. The case is still not closed.
The same incident happened to the famous Hollywood producer, Joel Silver. In 2014, Joel Silver purchased a sculpture of "Balloon Venus (Yellow)" by Jeff Koons for $8 million from Gagosian Gallery. The delivery date of the work was originally scheduled for June 2017. After Joel Silver has paid $3.2 million, the delivery date has been postponed until 2020, which makes Joel Silver quite dissatisfied. He believes that Gagosian Gallery is taking advantage of him. Silver then asked for his money back after growing weary of the delays. Gagosian Gallery, however, told him they will have the right to retain the money already received. Because the argument was not properly resolved, Joel Silver filed a lawsuit.
In fact, a piece of Jeff Koons' balloon sculpture work usually takes six to eight years to complete. However, what makes collectors skeptical is that they did not receive any photos, plans or related information about the production. After the gallery delayed the completion date, the collectors decide to cancel the deal. But, what is more possible, the artist's strictness in completing a work makes it more time-consuming to produce large and fine work.
In addition, the sculpture of tulips bouquet designed by Jeff Koons for the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks in France was rejected by the French people. Although it is out of Jeff Koons’ kindness to respect and mourn the victims, the cost of production and installation is paid by private sponsors or French people. Also, the sculpture is expected to be installed in a square between the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and the Palais de Tokyo. But the decision has no connection between terrorist attacks and the sculpture. Until now, the Paris government still discuss where to place with Jeff Koons.
Of course, these controversies cannot conceal Jeff Koons' success in business. In the past, he co-operated with BMW, Louis Vuitton, Google, etc., which made fans around the world to snap up.
Gagosian Gallery presents recent works by Jeff Koons from the “Gazing Ball” series. Included in this exhibition are seven Gazing Ball paintings, ranging from works by Jacques-Louis David, Hendrick Goltzius, Nicolas Poussin, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, and Gustave Courbet. When a shiny blue ball was put on a copy of a classical painting, viewers could see their reflection on the ball. It seems that viewers could feel the emotion and vibe of the painting. Artist integrates the readymade elements into classical paintings, making the “Gazing Ball” series is comprised of readymade items, classics images, the audience and the surroundings.
In the only Gazing Ball sculpture in the show, the blue sphere is placed atop a copy of Marcel Duchamp’s Bottle Rack (1914), raising questions about the definition of the readymade, as well as its relevance within Koons’s larger oeuvre.
Jeff Koons was born in 1955 and lives and works in New York. Collections include the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Tate, London; Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo; and other museums.
Exhibition Date: 3 November 2018 - 24 February 2019
Venue: New York Gagosian Gallery (976 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10075)
Figure 1：Jeff Koons, Gazing Ball (Rembrandt Self-Portrait Wearing a Hat), 2015. Oil on canvas, glass, and aluminum. Photo by YIART
Figure 2 left：Jeff Koons, Gazing Ball (Bottlerack), 2016. Galvanized steel and glass. Photo by YIART
Figure 2 right top：Jeff Koons, Gazing Ball (David Intervention of the Sabine Women), 2016. Oil on canvas, glass, and aluminum. Photo by YIART
Figure 2 right bottom：Jeff Koons, Puppy, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Photo by YIART
