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Lot Essay
In 1970 Warhol worked with Cowles communications company and the Los Angeles County museum of Art's Art and Technology Program to create the Rain Machine. This striking and innovative installation incorporated a fountain and a wall of Xographic (3 D) prints of flowers and was specifically created for the United States Pavilion at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan.
Warhol had first conceived his Flower series in 1964 while preparing an exhibition for the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. He had found a photograph in June of that year of hibiscus bloosom in a photographic magazine and had manipulated the image which he silkscreened and hand painted in distinctive ways on various sizes of canvas. Many commented at the time on the 3-dimensionality of the works and the way the flowers appeared to 'float' on the green background of foliage. In the present work, the technique of the lenticular photograph seems to take this idea one step further.
Having already co-operated with engineers to create his helium, silver balloon installation, Warhol found his joint venture with the world of technology both stimulating and fun. The chance to exhibit at Expo '70 was not merely an opportunity for him to rejuvenate older motifs but more importantly he was able to develop fully and capitalise on an already successful, and by then, iconographic theme.
By 1970, the theme of 'flowers' was entirely fashionable, connecting as it did with the craze for 'flower power' which was sweeping through popular society. The present work is a testament to Warhol's ability to extend his innotivity by combining it with an image which had already become an integral part of Pop Art and American culture.
Warhol had first conceived his Flower series in 1964 while preparing an exhibition for the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. He had found a photograph in June of that year of hibiscus bloosom in a photographic magazine and had manipulated the image which he silkscreened and hand painted in distinctive ways on various sizes of canvas. Many commented at the time on the 3-dimensionality of the works and the way the flowers appeared to 'float' on the green background of foliage. In the present work, the technique of the lenticular photograph seems to take this idea one step further.
Having already co-operated with engineers to create his helium, silver balloon installation, Warhol found his joint venture with the world of technology both stimulating and fun. The chance to exhibit at Expo '70 was not merely an opportunity for him to rejuvenate older motifs but more importantly he was able to develop fully and capitalise on an already successful, and by then, iconographic theme.
By 1970, the theme of 'flowers' was entirely fashionable, connecting as it did with the craze for 'flower power' which was sweeping through popular society. The present work is a testament to Warhol's ability to extend his innotivity by combining it with an image which had already become an integral part of Pop Art and American culture.