Christian Boltanski (French, 1944-2021), Les Bougies (Shadows from the Lesson of Darkness, Set B) Set of Three

1987

Oxidized copper, wire, tin, clay, aluminum, candles and wax, in three parts.
Executed in 1987.
Dimensions variable, each element:
height: 4 1/2 in. (11.4cm)
width: 12 3/8 in. (31.4cm)
depth: 1 3/4 in. (4.4cm)

Christian Boltanski is a contemporary French Conceptual photographer, painter, sculptor and installation artist who explored themes of mortality, memory and the human condition in his practice. Born in Paris on September 6, 1944, to a Ukrainian Jewish father and a Corsican mother, Boltanski grew up with the impact of World War II looming large. Boltanski often brought spirituality and meditation to his practice, following in the footsteps of Conceptual artists of the 1960s and 1970s, such as Joseph Beuys.

One of his most captivating and evocative installations, Les Bougies, in its different variations, stands as a testament to Boltanski’s ability to stimulate introspection and evoke emotional responses from viewers. Through a creative interplay of light, darkness and symbolism, the artist invites contemplation on the fragility and transience of life. Les Bougies, French for "The Candles,” is an immersive installation that employs the use of multiple flickering candles, placed within a dimly lit room. In the present lot, the soft glow of candles creates dancing shadows from the three skeletal figures, a playful and yet somber reflection on the brevity of life.

Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, New York.

A Prominent Philadelphia Collection (acquired directly from the above).