Contemporary Art

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October 01, 2020 at 2:00 pm ET

Online Auction
LOT 59

Lot 59

KIM DORLAND (1974-)

KIM DORLAND (1974-)
Lot 59 Details
KIM DORLAND (1974-), Canadian

UNTITLED (SILVER BIRCHES), 2011

oil on canvas laid down on board
signed, titled and dated on the reverse; signed and dated on the overflap
48 x 36 in — 121.9 x 91.4 cm

Estimate $10,000-$15,000

Realised: $12,000
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
KIM DORLAND (1974-)
  • KIM DORLAND (1974-)
Provenance:

Private Collection, Toronto

Note:

"Untitled (Silver Birches)," 2011, includes all of the recognizable elements of a Kim Dorland painting: isolated woods, tactility achieved via thickly applied paint, a distinct colour palette. Dorland not only captures visual aspects of the Canadian landscape, but the feeling of standing within it. Layers of oil paint create texture in this painting, the materiality of paint a key trope in Dorland’s work.

Painted in 2011 at the apex of Dorland’s success, this period marks both a maturity and a freshness in Dorland’s work. Dorland, who was born in 1974 in Wainwright, Canada, never lives far away from a forest. For him, the woods represent nostalgia, identity, and place, as well as an articulation of contemporary anxiety and dislocation. Dorland continues a time-honoured tradition of depicting the Canadian wilderness, influenced by Tom Thompson and JEH MacDonald, as well as David Mine, with a contemporary looseness and experimental quality not unlike the work of Peter Doig.

Silver birches are originally native to Asia and Europe, but naturalized and considered invasive in Canada. Light seeds are easily blown by the wind, making silver birches the first trees to re-appear after a forest fire. These contradictions—the tree’s resilience and invasiveness, it’s beauty and darkness—are articulated in Dorland’s painting.

We thank Tatum Dooley for contributing this essay. Dooley is a writer and curator living in Toronto. She writes widely on cultural trends in art, architecture, fashion, and technology.

CONDITION DETAILS

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LOT 59
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About Condition Ratings

  • 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.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.