£650-£950 VALUE (EST.)
$1,200-$1,750 VALUE (EST.)
$1,100-$1,600 VALUE (EST.)
¥5,500-¥8,000 VALUE (EST.)
€750-€1,100 VALUE (EST.)
$6,500-$9,000 VALUE (EST.)
¥110,000-¥150,000 VALUE (EST.)
$800-$1,150 VALUE (EST.)
This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
Lithograph, 1983
Unsigned Print Edition of 1000
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Toni Clayton, American Pop & Modern Specialist
Auction Date | Auction House | Artwork | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 2023 | Tate Ward Auctions - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
December 2022 | Bonhams Knightsbridge - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
September 2022 | Bonhams Knightsbridge - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
September 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
July 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
May 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print | |||
April 2022 | Bonhams Knightsbridge - United Kingdom | Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster - Unsigned Print |
Galerie Watari Exhibition Tokyo Poster is an unsigned lithograph by Keith Haring, produced in 1989 in an unnumbered edition of 1000. This poster was designed by as part of Haring's first solo exhibition at Galerie Watari in Tokyo, Japan in 1983. The artwork depicts a scene of conflict between a human figure riding a dolphin and a spaceship sending a stream of red electric rays on earth.
Outlined in bold black contours evocative of the aesthetic of graffiti, such potent symbols as dolphins, barking dogs or crawling babies gave Haring a point of entry into contemporary debates about social equality, politics, and the abuse of power. Through his art and activism alike, Haring represented a non-conformist stance on the topics ranging from racism, homophobia to nuclear annihilation.
While the mammal supports the human subject in its fight against the alien force, their relationship can also be seen as one defined by subjugation. Including straight lines around the dolphins’ head to connote screaming, the poster raises questions around exploitation, authority, and power. Placed at the very bottom of the poster is a line of small-sized crawling babies. Imbued with notions of life and innocence, the subtly inserted symbol creates contrast with the scene of violence.