Claire Tole-Moir
Head of Department
Rock & Pop
Lot 139AR
Enki Bilal (French, b.1951): The original artwork used on the cover of the Duran Duran film Arena (An Absurd Notion), 1984, 2
13 October 2020, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge£50,000 - £70,000
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Enki Bilal (French, b.1951): The original artwork used on the cover of the Duran Duran film Arena (An Absurd Notion),
1984,
the highly detailed gouache and acrylic painting on paper, a privately commissioned piece inspired by the imagery from Duran Duran's video for their hit single "The Wild Boys" released in 1984, and subsequently used on the film sleeve for the concept concert video Arena (An Absurd Notion) released by Tritec on VHS in 1985, which was filmed during the course of Duran Duran's 1984 Sing Blue Silver North American Tour in support of the album 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger', mounted and glazed in modern Perspex frame, accompanied by a magazine page with an advert for the film Arena, artwork 10 1/2in x 14 1/2in (27.5cm x 37cm), (2)
the highly detailed gouache and acrylic painting on paper, a privately commissioned piece inspired by the imagery from Duran Duran's video for their hit single "The Wild Boys" released in 1984, and subsequently used on the film sleeve for the concept concert video Arena (An Absurd Notion) released by Tritec on VHS in 1985, which was filmed during the course of Duran Duran's 1984 Sing Blue Silver North American Tour in support of the album 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger', mounted and glazed in modern Perspex frame, accompanied by a magazine page with an advert for the film Arena, artwork 10 1/2in x 14 1/2in (27.5cm x 37cm), (2)
Footnotes
Enki Bilal is a French comic book creator, comic artist and film director. His first solo comic book, "La Foire Aux Immortels" in 1980, is the first episode of his famous 'Nikopol Trilogy' for which he is best known for. Drawing on his inspirations from films such as '2001: A Space Odyssey' Bilal's distinct style which incorporates fantastical elements and mysterious forces has earned him numerous awards and even a solo exhibition at The Louvre.
Provenance:
Offered directly by Paul Berrow, Duran Duran's Manager (1980-1986), and Producer of the film Arena (An Absurd Notion). The artwork was commissioned by him whilst living in Paris in 1984.
"The Wild Boys" is the 12th single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, and was the only studio track on the band's live album 'Arena' (1984). The track was produced by Nile Rodgers, and was recorded at the Maison Rouge Studios in London. "The Wild Boys" became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching no.2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. The video for "The Wild Boys" was directed by Russell Mulcahy, and was based on the surreal and sexual 1971 novel "The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead" by William S. Burroughs. It depicts a homosexual youth movement whose objective is the downfall of western civilization, set in an apocalyptic late twentieth century. It's said, the cost of the music video for the song totalled over £1,000,000, and at the time was one of the most expensive music videos created. Apparently, Mulcahy's design filled one entire end of the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and makeup effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. "The Wild Boys" was named 'British Video of the Year' at the 1985 Brit Awards.
It is also believed that "The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead" inspired the clothes, hair, and makeup of David Bowie's character Ziggy Stardust, as well as being cited as one of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis's favourite books.
Sold without copyright or any reproduction rights.