Artist Lists £1 Million for Installation of 10 Tonnes of Old Rope
London – A new exhibition opening today at the Stephen Friedman gallery features an installation of ten tonnes of discarded rope, priced at £1 million plus VAT, challenging perceptions of value in the art world.
Turner Prize-nominated artist David Shrigley collected approximately 20 miles of rope over the past eight months from sources including seaports, wind farms, and even UK shorelines. The rope, meticulously cleaned by Shrigley’s studio, is displayed in four large piles throughout the Cork Street gallery, accompanied by a neon sign simply stating “exhibition of old rope.” Shrigley described the price tag as a “provocation,” stating, “I think £1m for a giant artwork, pound for pound or kilo for kilo, represents excellent value,” but acknowledging it may seem “ridiculous” to those outside the art market.
The work’s conceptual nature and commentary on the art market are central to Shrigley’s intent; he admits he might be more financially successful creating paintings, but finds joy in these kinds of projects and conversations. The installation includes a diverse range of rope types, from 20cm-thick Kevlar cables used for maneuvering cruise ships to delicate cords from buoys and fishing gear – materials largely composed of synthetic polyester and nylon, presenting significant environmental challenges due to their difficulty in recycling. Globally, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of marine rope end up in the ocean annually, contributing to pollution.
Gallery owner Stephen Friedman believes a suitable home will be found for the installation, whether with a private collector, institution, or foundation, and emphasized the importance of assigning a price to every artwork, as discussed in this Artsy article. Shrigley himself stated, “What do you do with stuff that you can’t get rid of? You make it into art.”
The gallery will now begin the process of finding a buyer for the unique installation, with Friedman confident a home will be secured for the piece.
