For a Charity Auction and Sale in support of UNICEF
The Asian Debut of a World Renowned Spectacular New Art Form
“Sculpt with Light”
Value has been appreciated by 5 times in 10 years!
Collectors include Dubai Royalty and Hollywood Celebrities!
"The beauty of beauty is that it is an antidote to ugliness. Beauty cleanses and inoculates against the unpleasantness of the world."
- Michael Wilkinson
ELEMENTS, the MTR Corporation's flagship shopping mall, has invited world-famous sculptor Michael Wilkinson to Hong Kong to be the guest of honor at the opening (January 14, 2010, 18 p.m.) of his premier exhibition in Hong Kong from January 15 to 30, 2010. Michael has specially selected 12 stunning acrylic sculptures for the exhibition; he will also donate 1 piece of “Athanteans II: Sirens” for a silent auction with all proceeds donated to UNICEF. All of Michael’s works are in limited editions; shoppers can see some sold-out art piece for this exhibition.
Sculpting with Acrylic - An art mastered by only 3 artists in the world!
Michael Wilkinson is an American artist who gave up a successful career in architecture back in the 1980s to devote himself to sculpting and the pursuit of "the purest of the pure". He started by sculpting with more traditional materials such as metals and clay. His knowledge of optics and structural dynamics, as well as his passion for optical reflection and refraction, however, soon led him to experiment with the clearest casting material in the world – “Acrylic” (85% transparency). Eventually, he succeeded in marrying this innovative new medium to the age-old art of figurative sculpting, a feat which has since established him as one of only three acrylic master sculptors in the world.
Despite his pioneering use of a new medium, Michael Wilkinson's works are all inspired by the timeless theme of love. He specializes in reinterpreting the rich lore and myths that have immortalized love in our collective consciousness. Like Michelangelo's David or Rodin's The Kiss, his works infuse the goodness inherent in the human spirit with an enduring romanticism. Using his more than 20 years of experience in acrylic sculpting, he has brought together the aesthetics of the traditional nude study, contemporary design sensibilities and a new-generation material – “Acrylic” - in truly mesmerizing works of art.
Acrylic as a sculpting material presented many technical challenges in the beginning. Michael had to find a way to prevent air bubbles from forming inside the acrylic when heating it. Also, because of the highly reflective nature of the material, the artist is, in a sense, sculpting with light. That means the visual effects of light on the sculpture must be accurately predicted. Michael's bold and ingenious solution was to make light itself part of his the sculpture. Using the interplay between positive and negative spaces that results from the reflection and refraction of light, Michael turned his sculptures into a multi-dimensional viewing experience for the viewer, works that exhibit a dynamic new aesthetics of suspended motion that brings the subject vividly to life and impacts on the viewer on many different levels.
Masterpieces Coveted by Collectors, Investors and Royalty
The artist's singular talent and the unique material he uses have combined to place his works firmly on the wish lists of art aficionados and collectors alike. Michael has been invited to exhibit at art museums in Chicago, Miami and Belgium, and counts among his legion of loyal fans members of the royal house of Dubai and Hollywood celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Elizabeth Taylor and Wayne Newton.
Many of Michael's works have become very impressive investments. “Prometheans”, which he created in 1993 with a limited production of just 9 pieces, has appreciated in value from US$90,000 to US$190,000. “Morning Light”, which unveiled in March of 1998 with a limited worldwide release of 500 pieces, was sold out in August of the same year. Originally priced at US$9000, this masterpiece's estimated value has risen to US$44,000 in just 11 years. Even at that price, no one is selling.
Another pièce de résistance, “Always”, will be among the exhibits at ELEMENTS. When it was released in 1996, all 500 pieces were snapped up within half a year. Even Michael himself has been able to keep just one sample for his own collection. This sculpture, offered at US$5,400 upon its original release, had risen to a price of US$20,000 by the year 2000, and now commands well in excess of US$32,000 on the market, a fivefold increase in value.
Charity Auction and Sale in support of UNICEF
The sculpture that will be put up for charity auction during the ELEMENTS Michael Wilkinson Asian Premier Exhibition is the 1991 creation, “Atlanteans II – Sirens”. The Sirens are sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, in classical Greek mythology that are said to descend on reefs or the prows of passing ships to lure mariners to destruction with their bewitching looks and enchanting song. Their powers of seduction were such that even the Trojan War hero Odysseus had to order his sailors to plug their ears with beeswax and had himself tied to the mast in order to escape their guile unharmed. “Atlantenas II: Sirens” was released with a limited production of 300 pieces, and has appreciated in value from the original US$5,500 to the current US$16,000. At the Michael Wilkinson Premier Exhibition Auction, the bidding will start at $120,000 (approximately US$15,000), making it a great investment opportunity.
Besides charity auction, Michael has also selected another limited edition mini sculpture, “Study of Muse Whisper”, for charity sale. The inner muse is captured in a beautiful light-filled world and speaks to us of our own moments of clarity and wisdom. She reminds us of what is possible and what we may have forgotten. In ancient mythology, the Muses were the young beautiful daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and they presided over the fine and liberal arts. Over time, a muse has come to mean the spirit who inspires an artist or poet.
“Study of Muse Whisper” was released in 2004 with 6.5” High, 6” Wide and 3” Deep, and limited to 500 pcs with designated edition numbers throughout the world. Customers can purchase “Study of Muse Whisper” with edition numbers 191 - 290 by HK$9,800, in which HK$1,000 will donate to support the Year Round Fund Raising program of UNICEF
The Michael Wilkinson Premier Exhibition in Hong Kong will showcase 12 works of art of ravishing beauty and consummate craftsmanship, including rare works from Michael's own private collection and other collectibles that have never appeared on the Asian market. Art lovers will not want to miss this unprecedented opportunity to see firsthand these masterpieces of classical inspiration and modern craftsmanship, while helping children in need around the world!
Time: 11 am - 10 pm
Venue: 2/F, Metal Zone, ELEMENTS (opposite Cartier Shop)
