Lot 267: Valeriy Gerlovin and Rimma Gerlovina , Russian b. 1945 and b. 1951 Spiral Clock and Lunation: A Pair, 1989 and 1990 (editions 8 and 9 of 15) ektacolor prints

Spiral Clock inscribed Rimma Gerlovina Valeriy Gerlovin 8/15 , titled Spiral Clock and dated 1989 (on the reverse); Lunation signed Gerlovina and Gerlovin , inscribed Rimma Gerlovina Valeriy Gerlovin 9/15 , titled Lunation and dated 1990 (on the reverse) ektacolor prints

measurements each: 25 by 25 in. alternate measurements 63.5 by 63.5 cm

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, UNITED STATES
In Russian art the tradition of body decoration goes back to the Futurists, who, in their efforts to bring Futurism to the public, walked through the streets with their faces painted. The work of the important conceptual artists Rimma and Valeriy Gerlovin draws on this practice. Their work is informed by other aspects of Russian Futurism as well; their extensive use of language is related to the Futurists' creation of a nonsensical, "transrational" language called zaum. In addition, the Gerlovins' conceptual photographic work reflects conceptual art's rejection of traditional materials.

The Gerlovins use their own bodies as both sites for art and a means to convey ideas. Describing their bodies as "human parchment for visual metaphysical formulas" and "rosaries containing prayers and spells," they write numbers, words, and symbols across their faces. Their bodies thus become subject, object, and expressive medium, the messenger and the message. The artists term their photographs "still performances," reflecting a carefully composed combination of close-up portraiture and theatrical pantomime. Their works make reference to Eastern philosophy, Christian iconography, and numerology.

The Gerlovins always begin their projects with drawings. They select the images for their photographs from hundreds of concepts outlined on paper. The resulting linguistic and numerological systems are at once scientific and mystical.