01/10/2024 General News, Timed-Online Auctions
One of the most defining aspects of Mark Hipper’s oeuvre is his pencil sketches of people, which reflect his unique ability to capture the rawness, fragility, and complex emotional states of his subjects. Through his minimalist yet deeply evocative pencil work, Hipper brings forward a stark and unsettling realism, challenging both aesthetic conventions and societal norms.
Detail of Lot 89: Mark Hipper, Figure study 4 | Estimate: R5 000 – R7 000
Hipper’s sketches stand out in their combination of simplicity and intensity. His choice of graphite or charcoal pencil as a medium allows for a stark contrast between light and shadow, creating images that are both delicate and haunting. Often using fine lines and subtle gradations of shading to evoke depth and texture, the artist achieves a visceral sense of realism. However, unlike traditional portraiture that seeks to idealise or beautify its subject, Hipper’s drawings often portray human figures in states of vulnerability, ambiguity, and distortion.
LEFT: Lot 86: Mark Hipper, Figure study 2 | Estimate: R5 000 – R7 000
RIGHT: Lot 87: Mark Hipper, Figure study 1 | Estimate: R5 000 – R7 000
The artist’s pencil work is characterised by an almost ‘unfinished’ quality, where details are intentionally omitted or abstracted. Faces and hair are more fully rendered, using soft shading to bring out the contours and texture, while the rest of the figures are outlined with simple, fluid lines. The loose, sketch-like quality of the bodies and clothing leaves much to the imagination, allowing the viewer to engage with the emotional depth of the subject rather than being distracted by details. Hipper's ability to communicate so much with so little is a hallmark of his style. By deliberately omitting certain details and leaving much of the canvas or paper blank, he challenges the viewer to focus on the subject’s emotional state and form their own interpretation of the scene.
LEFT: Lot 88: Mark Hipper, Figure study 3 | Estimate: R5 000 – R7 000
RIGHT: Lot 89: Mark Hipper, Figure study 4 | Estimate: R5 000 – R7 000
Auction
26 September to 3 October 2024
Discover more from Contemporary Art
SALE ENQUIRIES
Cape Town: +27 21 422 5100 | amy@aspireart.net
Johannesburg: +27 10 109 7989 | carina@aspireart.net