On October 6, 2011, Berlin newspaper Die Welt replaced all the pictures in their daily edition with Ellsworth Kellys. They also published a signed, limited edition reproduction of the front page on archival paper. Which stays brighter longer, which is nice. But it’s only printed on one sheet, on one side. And so it misses the entire point of the project, while replacing it with a picture souvenir.
With this signed, dedicated copy of the actual paper being sold this week, Kelly gave Kasper König the best of both worlds. It was König’s invitation that led Kelly to make his first floor piece, Yellow Curve – Portikus (1990), the work which was re-realized at Glenstone in 2015. I guess they stayed in touch.
Sure König’s Welt already turning yellow, but it’s got eleven other Kellys inside it. And there’s even a recursive version of itself on the back. And Lufthansa knocking off Milton Glaser. AND Amanda Knox.
And again, it’s an actual newspaper, not a picture of one. And that makes all the difference.
[Ellsworth Kelly’s 102nd birthday update: they even sent me multiple years of artist newspapers, yet idk why I had Die Welt in Munich, when, as tumblr user @11059 points out, it’s in Berlin, but it is in Berlin. Also Die Welt is right-wing and tacking harder right, with a Trumpist CEO and Elon endorsing AfD in the opinion page, so let’s celebrate Kelly’s birth by reminding Die Welt who he opposed in WWII.]
02 Oct 2024, Lot 146: Ellsworth Kelly, Die Welt, est EUR1000-1500 [update: sold for EUR5940, which is the most] [vanham]
Previously, related: I Wanna The Kelly Welt, Chico, An Everthinisinnit
Oh right, I saw it in person, and it rocked: Wade’s Welt, Excellent