MARC QUINN (B. 1964)
Grasshopper Infestation Near Ranohira Madagascar, 2009

signed, titled and dated 'Grasshopper Infestation near Ranohira Madagascar Marc Quinn 2009' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
66 1/4 x 97 1/2in (168.3 x 247.7cm)
Footnotes:
Marc Quinn's Grasshopper Infestation Near Ranohira Madagascar is a full and beautiful example from his Flower Paintings series. This series subverts the classic still-life with its hyper realistic style, vibrant color and by manifesting humanity's desire to control and manipulate nature. The subject arrangement is made from fruits and flowers bought in London on a particular day, which, in nature, would not be found in the same geographic region and would not ripen/flower at the same time of year. Once arranged, they are photographed and then painted from the photo, some with the addition of volcanic sand or snow (like the present painting) to further underscore the impossibility of the confluence of the vibrant beauty on display without human intervention.

There are areas of minor scuffing scattered along the extreme upper edge, to the lower right and upper left. There are a very few scattered pinpoint accretions, primarily to the left side. There is a tiny dot of stray paint at upper right. Upon very close inspection, there is a minor layer of surface dust, primarily to the blue passages of paint. There are some areas of drying craquelure to the dark pink passages of paint, with the largest area measuring 1/2 of an inch in length. There is a small spot of burnishing to the light pink passage at center, measuring approximately 1/2 of an inch in length. There is no apparent inpainting when viewed under UV light.