Bill Hammond painting expected to sell for up to $1.8m at auction
A painting by the late New Zealand artist Bill Hammond, titled 'Zoomorphic Lounge III', is expected to sell for up to $1.8 million at auction. The work is noted for its surreal bird-like figures, which serve as symbols for New Zealand identity.
Why it matters
The high valuation of this piece underscores the investment value of iconic cultural artifacts and the impact of artist scarcity on the art market.
An iconic New Zealand painting by artist Bill Hammond is expected to fetch up to $1.8 million when it goes under the hammer tonight.
Zoomorphic Lounge III was painted by Lyttelton artist Bill Hammond in 1999, and features surreal humanoid creatures on an emerald green background.
An art historian said the bird-like creatures, which were common in the artists work, were symbols of New Zealanders and their place in the world.
Linda Tyler, a professor in the Art History department at the University of Auckland, said a key moment in Hammond's career was his visit to the sub-antarctic Auckland islands in 1989.
"What struck him there was it was a bird-land. It was like New Zealand before human beings arrived and his art was very markedly changed after that moment. He became a little bit bird obssesed."
That motif could clearly be seen in Zoomorphic Lounge III.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in