Chi Modu
Tupac Shakur Smoking, Atlanta, Ga, 1994
Estimate: 1.200 - 1.800 USD
Price realised: 6.048 USD
Price realised: 6.048 USD
Description
CHI MODU
TUPAC SHAKUR SMOKING, ATLANTA, GA, 1994
Silver gelatin print (20 by 24 inches) signed "CM" at lower right. One of an edition of 50.
Chi first picked up a camera while a student at Rutgers. After honing his skills at the International Center of Photography, he landed at The Source (see lot 106), the definitive magazine of Hip Hop culture. It was here that Chi developed relationships with the biggest icons in Hip Hop, including Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and LL Cool J, most of whom were not yet famous.
In addition to shooting over 30 cover photos at The Source, Chi was able to capture the musicians in candid, unexpected moments, due to his disarming manner and unique perspective. His photos include some of the most groundbreaking, memorable images of that era, including Tupac Smoking (see lot 91) and Biggie WTC (standing in front of the World Trade Towers see — lot 88). He not only chronicled and defined the most important phase of the Hip Ho
PROVENANCE:
Courtesy Chi Modu
TUPAC SHAKUR SMOKING, ATLANTA, GA, 1994
Silver gelatin print (20 by 24 inches) signed "CM" at lower right. One of an edition of 50.
Chi first picked up a camera while a student at Rutgers. After honing his skills at the International Center of Photography, he landed at The Source (see lot 106), the definitive magazine of Hip Hop culture. It was here that Chi developed relationships with the biggest icons in Hip Hop, including Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and LL Cool J, most of whom were not yet famous.
In addition to shooting over 30 cover photos at The Source, Chi was able to capture the musicians in candid, unexpected moments, due to his disarming manner and unique perspective. His photos include some of the most groundbreaking, memorable images of that era, including Tupac Smoking (see lot 91) and Biggie WTC (standing in front of the World Trade Towers see — lot 88). He not only chronicled and defined the most important phase of the Hip Ho
PROVENANCE:
Courtesy Chi Modu
Artwork auctioned at three times the upper estimate price
When the work Tupac Shakur Smoking, Atlanta, Ga, 1994 by Chi Modu was auctioned at Sothebys in New York in September 2020, the result exceeded expectations many times over. The upper estimate was set at a - in retrospect quite modest - USD 1,800.00 but the actual price achieved was more than three times as high at USD 6,048.00 (€ 5,161.29). Admittedly, works by Chi Modu have also been auctioned for a multiple of this price - according to our records, the highest result so far was achieved by the work Notorious B.I.G. & World Trade Center, 1996 in September 2020 with an auction result of USD 30,240.00 (€ 25,806.45).
Kunstwerk zum Dreifachen des oberen Schätzpreises versteigert
Als die Arbeit Tupac Shakur Smoking, Atlanta, Ga, 1994 von Chi Modu im September 2020 bei Sothebys in New York versteigert wurde, übertraf das Ergebnis die Erwartungen um ein Vielfaches. Der obere Schätzpreis war mit – rückwirkend betrachtet recht bescheidenen – USD 1.800,00 angesetzt, der tatsächlich erzielte Preis hingegen war mit USD 6.048,00 (€ 5.161,29) mehr als dreimal so hoch. Freilich wurden Arbeiten von Chi Modu auch schon für ein Vielfaches dieses Preises versteigert – das bisher höchste Ergebnis erzielte nach unseren Aufzeichnungen die Arbeit Notorious B.I.G. & World Trade Center, 1996 im September 2020 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von USD 30.240,00 (€ 25.806,45).
Chi Modu - Auction history
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