Throughout Doug Aitken's career, alongside his films and individual photographs, large-format lightboxes have played an increasingly important role in his work. Aitken’s attention is focused on the possibility of finding new, strangely fragmented forms of representation: the terms seemingly chosen at random from an endless store of words only cut out the areas of the photographic image covered by the outlines of their individual letters.
In certain works, Aitken goes one step further. Alongside his continuing use of photographic likenesses and source materials, the surfaces of the works increasingly include mirrors, drawing the viewer and the immediate surroundings into a predefined form and occupying them. Other works display an entirely altered surface structure: deep craters are dug into the pictorial space, leaving behind a peculiar, seemingly self-erasing impression.
Press release, Doug Aitken, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich, 2012
EARTHWORK: APERTURE SERIES
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
ø 117.5 x 19 cm / ø 46 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches
150'000 USD
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK...: APERTURE SERIES
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
ø 117 x 19 cm / ø 46 x 7 1/2 inches
150'000 USD
FUTURE
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
Approx. 90 x 350 cm / 35 3/8 x 137 3/4 inches
225'000 USD
START SWIMMING
2008
Neon lit lightbox (duratran mounted to plexi in aluminum lightbox)
Edition 3 of 4
208.5 x 213.5 x 24 cm / 82 x 84 x 9 1/2 inches
300'000 USD
SPACE
2012
LED lit lightbox
Edition 1 of 4
87.5 x 323 x 14 cm / 34 1/2 x 127 1/8 x 5 1/2 inches
Weight 64 kg
225'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
PARTY
2013
Aluminum lightbox, LED lights, chromogenic transparency, acrylic
Edition 4 of 4 + 2 AP
75 x 244.5 x 19 cm / 29 1/2 x 96 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches
225'000 USD
EARTH
2015
Aluminum lightbox, LED lights, UV-cured pigment ink on acrylic
Edition 1 of 4 + 2 AP
91.5 x 326.5 x 12.5 cm / 36 x 128 1/2 x 5 inches
200'000 USD
Reserved
DRAMA (2)
2021
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Ed. 4/4 + 2 AP
86.5 x 348 x 18 cm / 34 x 137 x 7 inches
225'000 USD
VULNERABLE
2008
Neon lit lightbox (duratran mounted to plexi in aluminum lightbox)
Edition 1 of 4
71 x 559 x 19 cm / 28 x 220 x 7 1/2 inches
Weight approx. 150 kg
300'000 USD
PLATEAU II (IBM/MAC)
2003
Duratran mounted to plexi in aluminum lightbox
Edition 1 of 6
132.5 x 310 x 35.5 cm / 52 1/8 x 122 x 14 inches
Weight 290 kg
200'000 USD
DOUG AITKEN
Shock and Awe (two chairs and pool)
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
AP 1/2 + Ed. von 4
172.5 x 317.5 x 18 cm / 68 x 125 x 7 1/8 inches
250'000 USD
DON'T THINK TWICE I
2006
Blue and white neon on wooden frame, transformer, wall holders
Edition 4 of 4
167.5 x 167.5 x 18 cm / 66 x 66 x 7 1/8 inches
140'000 USD
1968 (BLACK)
2011
Black mirror, high density foam, wood
Variation of 4 + 2 AP
Installation dimensions 90.5 x 227.5 x 23.5 cm / 35 5/8 x 89 5/8 x 9 1/4 inches
250'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
2...
2011
Hand carved foam, epoxy with LED lights, hand silk-screened acrylic
Variation 4 of 4 + 2 AP
188 x 124.5 x 20.5 cm / 74 x 49 x 8 1/8 inches
200'000 USD
GLASS HORIZON (HEXAGON)
2014
Wood, steel, mirror and clear glass and mounted c-print
Variation 3 of 4 + 2 AP
134.5 x 153 x 57 cm / 53 x 60 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches
225'000 USD
INSIDE ME
2018
Aluminum, high density foam, resin, auto paint, acrylic mirror
Variation 2 of 4 + 1 AP
143.5 x 161.5 x 104 cm / 56 1/2 x 63 1/2 x 41 inches
300'000 USD
NOW (DARK WOOD)
2016
Wood, polished stainless steel, aluminum
Variation 1 of 4 + 2 AP
114 x 232 x 67 cm / 44 7/8 x 91 1/4 x 26 3/8 inches
350'000 USD
EXIT (LARGE)
2014
Colored mirror, clear mirror, powder coated steel
Variation 3 of 4 + 2 AP
172.5 x 236 x 40.5 cm / 68 x 93 x 16 inches
400'000 USD
HORIZONS AND BORDERS
2018
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition 1 of 4 + 2 AP
172.5 x 316 x 18 cm / 67 7/8 x 124 1/2 x 7 inches
250,000 USD
STILL LIFE WITH WINE AND TABLE (LAST BOUQUET)
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LED
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
Approx. 152 x 274.5 cm / 59 3/4 x 108 inches
225'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
STILL LIFE WITH SETTING SUN
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
152 x 274.5 x 18 cm / 59 3/4 x 108 x 7 inches
225'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
FIGURE WITH FRUIT BOWL
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
127.5 x 321.5 x 18 cm / 50 1/4 x 126 5/8 x 7 inches
250'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
STILL LIFE WITH SKULL (NATURE MORTE AU CRANE)
2019
Chromogenic transparency on acrylic in aluminum lightbox with LEDs
Edition of 4 + 2 AP
152 x 274.5 x 12.5 cm / 59 3/4 x 108 x 5 inches
225'000 USD
Please inquire about availability
FREE WAY
2012
Hand carved foam, epoxy, hand silk-screened acrylic
Unique
206.5 x 121 x 7.5 cm / 81 1/4 x 47 5/8 x 3 inches
175'000 USD
ICH BIN (RIVER)
2012
Hand carved foam, epoxy, hand silk-screened acrylic
Unique
239 x 91.5 x 16.5 cm / 94 x 36 x 6 1/2 inches
Weight 10 kg
150,000 USD
Aitken believes that as we move forward, the viewer’s role will change and be far less passive. As new forms of art making are created that are living, interactive and continuously changing, so too will the viewer have continuously changing dialogues with these artworks. It is important to change the way art is seen and find alternatives that move beyond the traditional role of the viewer as voyeur and spectator. In Aitken’s work the viewer is immersed, activating the work and being activated by it.
GROUNDED
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum, framed
Ed. 4/6 + 2 AP
Image 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 156 x 5 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 3/8 x 2 inches
40'000 USD
NO DIRECTION HOME
2008
C-print mounted on aluminum, framed
Ed. 4/6 + 2 AP
Image 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 156 x 5 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 3/8 x 2 inches
40'000 USD
SMALL CRAFTS (WATERPARK SERIES)
2019
Archival pigment print
Edition of 4 + 2 Ap
6 parts; each 59.5 x 87.5 cm / 23 3/8 x 34 1/2 inches
Frame; each 62 x 91 x 5 cm / 24 1/2 x 35 3/4 x 2 inches
120'000 USD
DIS-APPEAR
2005
C-print mounted on aluminum; framed
Ed. 4/6 + 2 AP
Sheet 152.5 x 122 cm / 60 x 48 inches
Frame 126 x 158 x 4.5 cm / 49 5/8 x 62 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches
40'000 USD
SECRET TRACKS
2006
C-print mounted on aluminum, framed
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
160 x 125.5 cm / 63 x 49 1/2 inches
40'000 USD
HALF LIGHT X 2
2007
C-print mounted to aluminum, framed
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
Sheet 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 155.5 x 4 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 1/4 x 1 5/8 inches
40'000 USD
ICE FORMS VII
2001/2008
C-print mounted to aluminum, framed
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
Image 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 156 x 5 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 3/8 x 2 inches
40'000 USD
HAND IN WINDOW
2008
C-print mounted to aluminum, framed
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
Image 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 156 x 5 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 3/8 x 2 inches
40'000 USD
BORDER II (SOUTH SIDE)
2002/2008
C-print mounted to aluminum, framed
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
Image 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 125 x 156 x 5 cm / 49 1/4 x 61 3/8 x 2 inches
40'000 USD
PURE CHANNEL
2005
C-print mounted on aluminum; framed with white wooden frame
Ed. 3/6 + 2 AP
Sheet 122 x 152.5 cm / 48 x 60 inches
Frame 126 x 158 x 4.5 cm / 49 5/8 x 62 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches
40'000 USD
George
from 3 Modern Figures (don’t forget to breathe)
2018
Cast frosted resin, programmed LED lights and composition, audio
speakers and components
Ed. 4/4 + 2 AP
54.5 x 175.5 x 87.5 cm / 21 1/2 x 69 x 34 1/2 inches
250'000 USD
Betsy
from 3 Modern Figures (don’t forget to breathe)
Cast frosted resin, programmed LED lights and composition, audio
speakers and components
Ed. 4/4 + 2 AP
170 x 56 x 43 cm / 67 x 22 x 17 inches
250'000 USD
Claire
from 3 Modern Figures (don’t forget to breathe)
Cast frosted resin, programmed LED lights and composition, audio
speakers and components
Ed. 4/4 + 2 AP
85 x 114.5 x 86.5 cm / 33 1/2 x 45 x 34 inches
250'000 USD
Doug Aitken is an American artist and filmmaker. Defying definitions of genre, he explores every medium, from film and installations to architectural interventions.
His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world, in such institutions as the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, the Vienna Secession, the Serpentine Gallery in London and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He participated in the both the 1997 and 2000 Whitney Biennials, and earned the International Prize at the Venice Biennale in 1999 for the installation “electric earth”. Aitken received the 2012 Nam June Paik Art Center Prize, and the 2013 Smithsonian Magazine American Ingenuity Award: Visual Arts. In 2016 he received the Americans for the Arts National Arts Award: Outstanding Contributions to the Arts. In 2017 Aitken became the inaugural recipient of the Frontier Art Prize, a new contemporary art award that supports an artist to pursue bold projects that challenge the boundaries of knowledge and experience to reimagine the future of humanity.
