A provocative yoga pose representation of Kate Moss crafted in 18-carat gold has fetched £577,250 at Sotheby’s in London.
The piece, titled Microcosmos (Siren), was acquired by an anonymous bidder via telephone from Asia.
This striking statue, which exhibits the supermodel with her legs behind her back, is a smaller 10kg version of Marc Quinn’s 50kg Siren created in 2008.
Producing that statue required £1.5million, of which £1million alone was the cost of the gold.
The Microcosmos (Siren), one of four identical pieces, likely had a production cost of about £200,000 attributed solely to the gold, coming from a private collection.
Quinn explained the name by stating, ‘It’s called Siren, because in a sense it represents everything that lures people to wreck themselves on the rocks…money, perfection, unattainable images…all these things.’
Referred to as a ‘modern-day Aphrodite’, the original golden representation of the supermodel is considered the largest gold sculpture crafted by humans since the times of ancient Egypt.
The piece is hollow, reportedly weighing the same as Moss herself. It serves as a variation of Quinn’s 2006 work, Sphinx, which featured Moss in the same pose but was made of cast bronze with a white-painted finish.
The model expressed enjoyment in posing for the artist and was satisfied with the final creation.
Quinn noted, ‘When I showed Kate the statue she told me she loved it. She really liked the idea and she modeled for me for a day or so.’
However, he remarked, ‘She didn’t pose for me like that.’
A more experienced female yoga practitioner served as the model, but the body, hands, and feet were based on Moss’ precise measurements.
Siren was showcased at the British Museum shortly after being unveiled to the public as part of the Statuephilia exhibition held in the Nereid Gallery alongside statues of classical Greek deities, including Aphrodite.
Renowned for controversy, artist Quinn’s most recognized work is Alison Lapper Pregnant, exhibited on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, which portrayed pregnant disabled artist Alison Lapper in the nude.
Additionally, the sculptor’s self-portrait bust, displayed at the National Portrait Gallery, was created using eight pints of his own blood.
by Harry Harper