Lot 344: Tom Sachs and Dirk Westphal (b. 1966 and b. 1963)

Untitled (Armor from New York Gladiators ) signed and dated 'Tom Sachs 1/14/95' (on the breast plate)--signed and dated again 'Tom Sachs 1/14/95' (on the shield)--signed again, inscribed and dated again 'gladiator event Tom Sachs 1/14/95' (on the stool) four elements--plastic, cloth tape, clothes hanger and found police and construction barricades breast plate: 34 x 26 x 6 in. (86.4 x 66 x 50.2 cm.) shield: 23 x 19 x 8 in. (58 x 48.2 x 20.2 cm.) sword: 34 x 81/4 x 71/2 in. (86.4 x 21 x 19 cm.) stool: 28 x 19 x 173/4 in. (71 x 48.2 x 45 cm.) Executed in 1995. PROVENANCE Acquired from the artists NOTES "You get points for style and contact. You can still win even if you get the shit kicked out of you-just like in life, if you look good, nothing else matters" (D. Westphal, 3 April 2002).02). Conceived by Dirk Westphal, New York Gladiators is an ongoing performance piece that was most active between 1994 and 1999 in which generally two protagonists engage in a vicious three round match. For each combat, the protagonists are outfitted with custom-made armor. The present lot was designed and realized by the occasional collaborative duo Tom Sachs and Dirk Westphal, and was used in battle. The performances were held at a number of venues, including various New York apartments, Petrosino Park in Soho and at P.S. 1 in Long Island City. Although the events have the production quality of a humorous "B" grade movie and include a referee, half-time cheerleader show and a judge's panel, the battles were very violent affairs that often resulted in bruised and bloodied bodies.