Contemporary Art

September 26October 01, 2020
Auction begins to close at 2:00 pm ET

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LOT 86

Lot 86

DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-)

DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-)
Lot 86 Details
DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-), Canadian

GROUP OF SEVEN AWKWARD MOMENTS (BEAVER AND WOO AT TANOO), 2008

chromogenic print
from an edition of 5
37.5 x 50 in — 95.3 x 127 cm

Estimate $2,500-$3,500

Realised: $4,500
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-)
  • DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-)
  • DIANA THORNEYCROFT (1956-)
Provenance:

Private Collection, Toronto

Note:

Winnipeg-based artist Diana Thorneycroft is known for her photographs of darkly witty dioramas, which are often constructed using children’s toys. In “Group of Seven Awkward Moments,” the artist used reproductions of paintings by the Group of Seven as backdrops to tableaux that question national identity, the ever-shifting interpretations of history, and the Canadian relationship to landscape. In the artist’s own words, “it is through the use of the collective's iconic northern landscapes, which have come to symbolize Canada as a nation, combined with scenes of accidents, disasters, and bad weather that gives the work its edge. By pairing the tranquility of traditional landscape painting with black humour, the work conjures up topical and universally familiar landscapes fraught with anxiety and contradictions.”

In “Beaver and Woo at Tanoo,” the iconic Canadian lumberjack, surrounded by beavers, is paused during the act of felling totem poles rather than timber. The backdrop is Emily Carr’s “Tanoo, Q.C.I.,” which the artist painted in 1912 upon her return from France. 1912 marked the apex of First Nations’ protests against the encroachment of settlers on Native land, as well as a smallpox epidemic that decimated all but two Haida villages. Thorneycroft harnesses this pain and trauma, echoing it in both foreground and background.

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 86
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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.