SONOMA, CALIF.- The Donum Estate, a leader in single-appellation Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Northern California, announced the latest additions to its world-renowned, accessible private art collection. The unveiling of two monumental sculptures - 'Show' (2010) by Antony Gormley (United Kingdom, 1950) and 'Open' (2019) by William Kentridge (South Africa, 1955) - amplifies the collection's artistic resonance both within the United States and internationally.
These exceptional pieces join a revered of nearly 60 artworks, inclusive of both paintings and monumental open-air sculptures, gracefully situated on the Donum Estate. Holding its place as one of the world's most extensive, accessible, privately-owned outdoor sculpture experiences, the Donum Collection continues to solidify its standing within the international art community and among the world's most esteemed private collections.
Mei and Allan Warburg, Owners of The Donum Estate, noted, "We are thrilled to further augment the Donum Collection with Antony and William, artists whose oeuvres we have long admired. Central to our commissioning program at Donum are the direct relationships we foster with artists; additionally, we actively seek out unique opportunities to acquire distinctive artworks. Our studio visit five years ago reinforced this approach, especially when encountering Antony's piece from his 'Test Sites' exhibition in London. This period was characterized by his compelling use of cast iron blockwork sculptures and a distinctive architectonic language that resonated with us. William’s patinated bronze piece, reminiscent of a corkscrew, was a coveted acquisition from his African museum survey. The retrospectives of his work, presented at the UCCA in Beijing in 2015 and at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in 2017, left a significant impression on us. We have noted with pleasure his growing following on the West Coast, evidenced by his recent campus-wide residency at UC Berkeley and his prior exhibition at the Broad in Los Angeles. The timing felt ideal for this acquisition, particularly after William's visit to Donum to walk our grounds and sample our wines. These new iron and bronze additions materially diversify our collection. We are confident that these works will further enhance the unique collection and experience, which harmoniously blends fine wine with monumental art."
Rising to over 2 meters tall and weighing over 1.5 tonnes, Gormley’s work ‘Show' is positioned amongst the cherry trees, located on the road between Subodh Gupta's 'People Tree' and Doug Aitken’s 'Sonic Mountain' within Donum's eucalyptus grove. ‘Show’ belongs to Gormley’s ‘Extended Blockworks’ series, which push blocks outwards towards the surrounding context. They attempt to extend emotion through formal means and become static points of reference against which the viewer’s movements might be calibrated. The 200-acre sanctuary, cradled between the famed wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, provides an ideal backdrop for the expansive collection from leading practitioners spanning six continents, further enhancing its global relevance. Concurrently, 'Open' has been thoughtfully situated between the undulating terrain of Donum Home and the Rose Garden. Its presence enriches the vantage point from Donum Home."
Of this series Antony Gormley has said, “I have always felt that the body is not limited by its edge – that we both remember and project our embodiment and sense our context. These works literally reach out into space and, in their stacked condition, materialize a sense of anticipation and recall.’
William Kentridge commented, “Drawing is the start - bridging the tactile reality of sculpture with the illusion of silhouette. ‘OPEN' is akin to a hieroglyph, in the form of a corkscrew. Like the other sculptures in this series, the hope is that it harmonizes recognizability with abstraction, whilst also oscillating between two and three-dimensional readings. At the same time, we cannot resist reading something like human form into the dual pillars, or legs. As it joins the Donum Collection's many fine monumental sculptures, the hope is to put ‘OPEN’ in conversation with those pieces - its dull, deep patinated surface contrasting with the Collection's reflective sculptures. A sculpture is in interaction with the elements, and its integration into the landscape and insertion into the conversation with other pieces in the collection invites exploration. 'OPEN’ finds its place in harmony with the hills, the estate, the vines – a proud addition to the Donum Collection, of which I am honored to be a part.”
Donum takes immense pride in the strategic placement of artworks throughout its estate, always mindful of the land, seasons, and the necessary measures to protect both the art and the environment. This includes a state-of-the-art winemaking facility and a vibrant farm.
"For more than two decades, we've been dedicated to crafting some of the finest Pinot Noir in California. Today, Donum is one of the first wineries in Sonoma County to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified® status for all of our Estate vineyards and is duly recognized by the California Certified Organic Farming Association (CCOF). Our steadfast commitment to biodynamic and regenerative organic farming practices ensures that our vines consistently yield the highest-quality fruit. Beyond vineyards, we also serve as humble custodians of the Donum Collection. The recent addition of two works significantly enhances our collection, offering guests unexpected and extraordinary encounters with art throughout the Estate." shared Angelica de Vere Mabray, Donum's Chief Executive Officer.
