It’s Elemental: Line and Colour in Contemporary Art

October 2429, 2020
Auction begins to close at 2:00 pm ET

Online Auction
LOT 29

Lot 29

RIC EVANS, R.C.A. (1946-)

RIC EVANS, R.C.A. (1946-)
Lot 29 Details
RIC EVANS, R.C.A. (1946-), Canadian

ABERTAWE GREEN/GREY, 1996

oil and encaustic on canvas
titled and dated to gallery label on the reverse
18 ins x 18 ins; 45.7 cms x 45.7 cms

Estimate $1,500-$2,500

Realised: $1,560
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
RIC EVANS, R.C.A. (1946-)
  • RIC EVANS, R.C.A. (1946-)
Provenance:

The Sable-Castelli Gallery, Limited, Toronto
Private Collection, Ontario

Literature:

Bowers, Robert. “Mercer Union | RIC EVANS, An Interview with Ric Evans.” Mercer Union, a Centre for Contemporary Art, www.mercerunion.org/exhibitions/ric-evans. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.

Note:

Ric Evans’ mastery of line and colour in his iconic geometric abstractions is exemplified in “Abertawe Green/Grey” (1996). Composed of five sharply-divided rectangles, each colour field either emerges from the surface or recedes into the background, our perceptions changing due in part to the jarring shifts of warm and cool colours. The painting is complex as it elicits many perceptual responses simultaneously; we first see the blocks of colour as individual entities then engage with the unique relationships they have with the adjoining segments as they break through the confines of the blocks. Tension between the red central shape that commands the canvas and the deep blue and black areas, for example, contrasts with the less energetic pairings with the fields to the right.

This painting is a built environment, almost architectural, where shapes, separated by Evans’ use of hard-edged lines, are arranged with mathematical precision. When asked about his handling of lines in his painting practice, Evans said that “using straight lines is one way of making a painting; a chosen restriction. I like seeing things in their own area.”

CONDITION DETAILS

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LOT 29
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  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

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