Ger van Elk, Sardines, 1971

Set of two original colour photographs from a numbered edition of 10, dated 1971. Diptych, each work 23.5 x 23.5 cm framed with passepartout, image: 13 x 13.5 cm. Left panel signed 'Ger van Elk 1971' on the picture in lower left margin, titled 'Sardines' in lower right margin. Right panel signed 'Ger van Elk 1971' on lower left margin of the photo, numbered and titled ' 9/10 Sardines' on lower right margin. Provenance: Gift of the artist. In mint state.

Dutch artist Ger van Elk (1941–2014) was a best known as a pioneer of Conceptual Art with associations to both Arte Povera and Fluxus. The series The Discovery of the Sardines was made when the artist was living in California in the 1970s, he inserted the sardines in an earth quack-caused crack in a Los Angeles County road, creating the illusion of a plague of fish roiling just under the surface of the earth. Added for reference purposes is the Ger van Elk monograph published by Thieme Art, 2009. (total 3)