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A steel sculpture that doubles as a bookshelf fetches pretty penny at Phillips auction

By Renyi Lim 4 September, 2017

Steely Gaze

Taking its title from a Richard Rodgers song written for the musical Oklahoma, Israeli-born, London-based artist Ron Arad’s work – Oh, the Farmer and the Cowman Should be Friends – alternates between different forms of steel: rough and smooth, reflective and matte.

The piece, which measures 351.8 by 570.2 by 40cm, demonstrates a remarkable command of form and technique. Fabricated in 2009, the installation can be used as a bookshelf. Fetching US$298,000 (S$411,000) at a Phillips auction in New York in June, we wonder how its new owner intends to display/utilise it.

Phillips