Ika 2
Ika 2
Signed Print
Julian Opie
Price data unavailable
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
118 x 80cm, Edition of 40, Digital Print
Medium: Digital Print
Edition size: 40
Year: 2011
Size: H 118cm x W 80cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
Last Auction: March 2020
Auction Results
Track auction value trend
Meaning & Analysis
Ika 1 is a digital print from 2011 by Julian Opie that shows a three-quarter length portrait of an elegantly dressed woman. Depicted in a blue dress with thick dark outlines, Opie reworks his trademark style of a simplified figure and floating circular head by adding details such as long hair and opulent clothing.
Ika is representative of Opie’s fascination with the genre of portraiture but rather than show a highly detailed character study, the subject appears more like a generic sign. Using computer-drawing programmes to complete his works, Opie finds a standardised version of the human figure, such as the signs used on lavatory doors, and combines this with a digital photograph of a real person.
Balancing nuanced styles of Western art with graphic traditions of caricature and illustration, Ika 2 appears like a 21st century version of a portrait of a royal or aristocrat. In depicting the sitter without facial features, using a blank circle floating above her shoulders as a head, Opie subverts the traditional genre to provoke ideas surrounding what makes a portrait of a person distinct. Opie uses drastically simplified form to create the base of many of his portraits, embellishing each one with clothing, resulting in a variety of unique types.
Julian Opie, born in 1958, dances through the contemporary art scene with a distinctive digital allure. A trailblazer of the 1980s New British Sculpture movement, Opie's work is a highly stylised blend of Pop Art and minimalism which navigates the intersection of technology and visual expression. From his early experiments with computer-generated art to his iconic portraits and animated installations, Opie's work exudes a captivating simplicity. His signature style, marked by bold lines and reduced forms, is internationally recognisable and has made him a key player in British contemporary art.
