Lot 120: Homage to Francis Bacon: Triptych I, 2008

Homage to Francis Bacon: Triptych I, 2008
Acrylic and oilstick on canvas (in three parts). 63 1/2 x 46 7/8 in. (161.3 x 119.1 cm) each. 

 N. Dahabiyeh, "Painter prepares for art in space", BBC News, London, July 7, 2008; P. Sonne, "British artists create zero-gravity art...", USAToday, July 8, 2008; "British Artists Sick of Space", New York Sun, July 9, 2008; J. Edwards, "The Small Picture", Sunday Tribune, August 31, 2008   

 Acquired directly from the artist

Azam has broken new ground with his Homage to Francis Bacon:Triptych I.  This was the first painting ever to have been made in a zero gravity environment.  The piece was created as part of his pioneering ‘Life in Space’ project, which was directed by Azam and conducted from Moscow’s Star City earlier this year, attracting widespread international media attention.  Azam drew on a lifelong love of Francis Bacon’s work, and produced his homage in conditions intended to reflect Bacon’s monumental reputation and continuing relevance for the contemporary art world.  The Triptych is also a performance painting. It documents a specific moment, as well as being timeless reflection on the basic elements of painting, which Azam  has explored in his recent work: color, movement, and line. Gravity defines  the human form; Homage to Francis Bacon: Triptych I is a meditation on what happens when that constriction is removed. ‘Life in Space’ was Azam’s first venture into performance painting, and will be followed by further projects scheduled for 2009 in Antarctica.  Working in extreme environments, creating images that push beyond accepted aesthetic boundaries, Azam’s artistic identity combines vigorous expression with a refined sensibility. Azam is Artist in Residence at the County Hall Gallery in London. His work is included in leading contemporary art collections, and he has exhibited both nationally and internationally.