Gilbert & George - The Singing Sculpture

Gilbert & George’s The Singing Sculpture 1969–91 is a landmark limited-edition print that captures their breakthrough performance, first staged in 1969. Rendered as a relief print with aluminum foil and screenprint, it commemorates their radical presentation of themselves as “living sculptures,” where they sang and moved mechanically to Underneath the Arches by Flanagan & Allen. This edition not only documents one of the most iconic early performances of their career but also embodies their lifelong commitment to erasing the boundary between art and life. A rare and highly sought-after print for collectors of Contemporary Art for Sale, it offers direct access to the roots of Gilbert & George’s groundbreaking practice.

Gilbert & George are a British artist duo who have been working together since the late 1960s. Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore met while studying at St. Martin’s School of Art in London and have since become known for their provocative and controversial work that often challenges societal norms and conventions. One of their most well-known works is titled The Singing Sculpture. Created in 1969, the performance piece features Gilbert & George dressed in suits, standing on a table, and singing the hymn “Underneath the Arches” while moving their arms and legs in a robotic manner. The piece challenges traditional notions of sculpture and performance, blurring the boundaries between the two. Another notable work by Gilbert & George is their “Drinking Pieces” series. Created in the early 1970s, the series consists of large-scale photographs of the artists holding alcoholic drinks and making provocative gestures. The images are meant to challenge societal taboos around alcohol and to critique the conservative attitudes of British society at the time. Gilbert & George are also known for their brightly colored and highly detailed “Pictures” series, which features a wide range of images and symbols from everyday life. The series has been described as a kind of visual diary, reflecting the artists’ experiences and observations of contemporary culture. Throughout their career, Gilbert & George have been recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to the art world. They were awarded the Turner Prize in 1986, and in 2017, they were the subject of a major retrospective at London’s Tate Modern museum.