#marlene-dumas

#marlene-dumas

My faces are a mixture of the past and the present. I cannot paint the horrors of the ongoing genocides of our times directly, but their shadows did affect the mood under which these faces were made. Portraiture deals with likeness and the recognition of people known. Faces deal with the nameless. They include those dehumanised, like fugitives, branded as aliens.

"It's a funny position to be in, because in my generation of artists, with people like Jeff Koons, their prices were much higher."

"It's a tough market, we're not expecting fireworks," said Christie's chairperson, indicating a cautious outlook for the auction.