Text Me if You Can

Bonhams Partners With Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

London – WEBWIREWednesday, October 25, 2023

Text Me If You Can

Contemporary Editions X Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

24 Oct – 7 Nov 2023

Online, London

David Hockney R.A.

(British, born 1937)

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) 21 March

In celebration of the playfully irreverent mood of the 21st century, Bonhams Prints and Multiples department partners with Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, hosting a stand at the event from 26-29 October. Bonhams will feature a selection of highlights from the online-only auction, Text Me If You Can: Contemporary Editions x Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair which takes place between 24 October and 7 November on bonhams.com.

The preview will feature two works by David Hockney, widely considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st century. His The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) 21 March, which has an estimate of 70,000-100,000, embodies his life-long desire to experiment with different materials and techniques, incorporating newer technologies into his practice, through the use of iPad drawing. Alongside his The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) 25 February, which has an estimate of 60,000-80,000, the works capture the passage of time, which has become a major theme in his body of work. Printed far larger than the screen on which it was created, these works reveal each stroke of the artists hand.

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair is the UKs largest contemporary print fair, boasting 1000 original artworks and bringing together over 500 established and emerging artists and leading galleries. New and exciting contemporary talent is showcased in a curated exhibition, staged alongside individual gallery stands. Visitors will have the opportunity to procure works at accessible price points and enjoy a schedule of talks, workshops and live demonstrations.

Carolin von Massenbach, Head of Prints & Multiples in London, commented, Featuring works by contemporary printmakers, such as David Hockney, Harland Miller, David Shrigley, and The Connor Brothers, this sale celebrates artists who utilise the intersection between text and imagery as a playground for social commentary. In the spirit of Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, we are also pleased to feature a selection of new and exciting contemporary artists, such as Adam Bridgland, Alma Singer, Gommie, Janet Milner, and Hannah Gilson.

Other highlights of the sale which will be previewed at Woolwich Contemporary Art Fair include:

Harland Miller (British, born 1964), Who Cares Wins (Unique), a unique screenprint in colours with extensive hand-colouring in oil and watercolours, 2014/2021. Estimate: 40,000-60,000

David Shrigley (British, born 1968), Enjoy Each Moment, screenprint in colours with varnish overlay, 2022. Estimate: 2,500-3,500

Grayson Perry (British, born 1960), Marriage Flag, handmade cotton fabric and embroidery appliqu flag, 2018. Estimate: 2,000-3,000

The Connor Brothers (British, born 1968), Every Saint Has A Past, pigment print in colours with hand-colouring in acrylic and pastel, 2020. Estimate: 2,000-3,000

All works will be available to bid on during the online auction from which takes place on bonhams.com between 24 October-7 November.