Each 13-colour silkscreen print includes a group of mechanisms conceived by the artist to establish its authenticity, and as integral parts of the artwork. (see photos)
Dimensions: 30.5 x 24 Inches
Medium: 13-colour silkscreen print with semi-gloss varnish, printed on 600gsm Somerset Tub Sized Satin paper (very thick!) and authenticated by a QR code printed in UV-light sensitive ink, a bespoke deboss, a holographic sticker, a unique QR code sticker and an individually-stamped edition number.
Provenance: Front of print individually stamped with edition number (top left corner). Holographic sticker affixed to reverse (bottom right corner), alongside a unique QR code linking to a unique on-chain certificate of authenticity.
Edition: Limited Edition of 1337 (#451/1337)
Year: 2022
Condition: Excellent
Note: This piece will ship flat in its original wood-crate packaging!
ABOUT THE ART
To benefit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, silkscreen print Too Darn Hot combines a landmark moment for Tom Sachs’ practice with his continued investigations of the past, present and future of authentication.
“The thing about faith is that it's for the faithful. It only works if you believe in it.”
The acquisition of Too Darn Hot – a ‘frankenrocket’ from Sachs’ trailblazing Rocket Factory project – by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) underscored the museum’s position as one of the most progressive in the world with regard to the intersections of art and technology. To support the future of this position, 40% of proceeds from the Sachs’ first Avant Arte edition will be donated to LACMA.
Each 13-colour silkscreen print includes a group of mechanisms conceived by the artist to establish its authenticity, and as integral parts of the artwork. A debossed design includes information from the launch of Sachs’ physical Too Darn Hot rocket at LACMA in 2021. A rubber stamp in its centre denotes the print’s specific number within the overall edition. A QR code printed in UV ink connects each print with the original Too Darn Hot NFT metadata on the blockchain. On the print’s reverse is a tamper-proof holographic sticker, placed alongside a QR code sticker that links to a unique token on the blockchain – an NFT – which serves as a certificate of authenticity for the print it connects with. A second, printed certificate of authenticity shipped with each print also links directly to this NFT.
ARTIST BIO
"I make no distinction between a cathedral, a sculpture, a painting, a performance or a pair of sneakers. They’re all art to me. It’s all the same approach. They hold the same values of transparency."
"For Tom Sachs, the beauty of an object is in the imperfections. The sturdy, DIY aesthetic of his artworks is a counterbalance to the clean, minimal lines of modern consumer products – a stand against inbuilt obsolescence. Sachs works alongside a team in his New York City studio to create large-scale sculptures and installations. They use a huge range of materials, from duct tape and wood to ‘readymade’ objects like lamps and umbrellas. The way the art has been built is always apparent. Screws visible. Glue drips exposed.
Sachs’ art celebrates what’s possible when his team comes together. In 2007, they staged a mock space mission to the moon from Gagosian in Beverly Hills. Then, in 2012, they headed to Mars from the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan. The 55,000 square foot space was filled with plywood sculptures, a nostalgic mission control desk and an array of found objects. “We’re not going to Mars because we fucked up Earth and are looking for a new home, we’re going to better understand our resources here on Earth,” Sachs explains. In line with his overarching take on consumerism and technology, the hand-made quality of each element brings a human touch to the futuristic ideals of space flight." -Avant Arte