Hypeart & Bonhams Announce 'Instructions for a Memory Device' Auction

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of Frieze Art Week 2024 in Los Angeles, Hypeart is teaming up with the renowned auction house, Bonhams, for an intriguing auction series named Instructions for a Memory Device. Held in the newly-renovated Bonhams space, the curated collection by Hypeart offers a glimpse into a dynamic artistic time capsule. It invites attendees to ride the waves of nostalgia while crafting fresh memories, as Hypeart and Bonhams celebrate their roots and culturally-rich histories.

Instructions for a Memory Device is an auction series curated by Hypeart that unravels the threads of nostalgia, navigating a flurry of recollections and emotions. Each piece in this series serves as a unique set of loose instructions, guiding us through the labyrinth of artist memories. From the vivid strokes of artists’ brushes to the intricacies of sculpted forms, these pieces encapsulate moments that linger in the corridors of our minds. One highlighted work is a minimalist sculpture entitled Cleaning Piece (1966/1988) by Yoko Ono that references the artist’s “action poems” which she published in a book called Acorn back in 2013 — a sequel to Ono’s Grapefruit book of conceptual art.

Another work in the collection is a pair of unique works on paper by LA-based artist Glenn Akira Kaino called Study for 19.83 #2 (2013) and Study for 19.83 #3 (2013) that challenges the act of recollecting memories. In 1968, Tommie Smith’s symbolic protest during the Mexico City Olympics became an iconic image, symbolizing various causes. 19.83 explores the transformation of historical events into powerful images and the duality of memory—remembering and forgetting. Smith’s action is part of a discourse on collective action and responsibility to past achievements which is memorialized in Kaino’s work.

An exhibition preview for Instructions for a Memory Device opens on February 24 with a special opening reception featuring custom cocktails by Maestro Dobel Tequila to launch on February 27. The physical, live auction will commence on March 1. Those interested in attending the special opening reception will need to RSVP here.

Stay tuned for more details on Hypeart and head to Bonhams’ website for more information on their ongoing auctions.

Bonhams
7601 Sunset Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90046