Cybernetic Sculpture
106.7 cms x 61 cms x 53.98 cms (42 ins x 24 ins x 42 ins)
On verso signed and dated 1971
made in 1971
Lot offered for sale by Heffel, Vancouver at the auction event "October 2015 Online auction" held on Thu, Oct 29, 2015.
Lot 227
Lot 227
Estimate: CAD $12,000 - $15,000
Realised: CAD $9,440
Realised: CAD $9,440
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
The Electric Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Toronto
Exhibitions:
Ontario Science Centre, Tsai: Cybernetic Sculpture Environment, Toronto, May 31 - July 1, 1971
Notes:
Wen-Ying Tsai was a celebrated artist who emigrated to New York from China in 1950. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Tsai became a very successful New York City architectural engineer who made time to pursue many other interests, such as evening studies at the Art Students League, political science and economics studies at the New School for Social Research and classes in modern dance. A true polymath, he became an award-winning painter and, by the mid-1960s, a pioneer of Kinetic art. He used his knowledge of engineering in his construction of cybernetic sculptures, interactive works which were exhibited and collected worldwide. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto held a solo exhibition of his work in 1971, simultaneous with a solo show at Toronto's Electric Gallery which represented his sculpture for several years. A kinetic sculpture comparable to this lot was purchased at that time, and remains in the collection of the Science Centre.
Please note: the electric motor and the stroboscope are 110-120 voltage.
The Electric Gallery, Toronto
Private Collection, Toronto
Exhibitions:
Ontario Science Centre, Tsai: Cybernetic Sculpture Environment, Toronto, May 31 - July 1, 1971
Notes:
Wen-Ying Tsai was a celebrated artist who emigrated to New York from China in 1950. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Tsai became a very successful New York City architectural engineer who made time to pursue many other interests, such as evening studies at the Art Students League, political science and economics studies at the New School for Social Research and classes in modern dance. A true polymath, he became an award-winning painter and, by the mid-1960s, a pioneer of Kinetic art. He used his knowledge of engineering in his construction of cybernetic sculptures, interactive works which were exhibited and collected worldwide. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto held a solo exhibition of his work in 1971, simultaneous with a solo show at Toronto's Electric Gallery which represented his sculpture for several years. A kinetic sculpture comparable to this lot was purchased at that time, and remains in the collection of the Science Centre.
Please note: the electric motor and the stroboscope are 110-120 voltage.
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.