Name: Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) /Rio
Brand: Julian Opie
Rating: 5 (231 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of Julian Opie's Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) /Rio (signed) is estimated to be worth between £2,550 and £3,850. This digital print, created in 2002, has shown consistent value growth, with an auction history of one sale in July 2021. The hammer price of this artwork is 3069, and the edition size is limited to 40.

Auction Date

Auction House

Location

Hammer Price

Return to Seller

Buyer Paid

July 2021

Wright

United States

Meaning & Analysis

Julian Opie’s Imagine You Are Driving (Fast)/Rio is from a series of prints from 2002 called Imagine You Are Driving (Fast). This series of prints invites the viewer into a simulated world of Formula 1 driving, rendered in Opie’s bold, linear style that works to create a depersonalised image. On the left hand side of the composition Opie depicts an empty expanse of tarmac disappearing into the distance and devoid of all human presence. The right hand side of the print shows a portrait of a famous Honda F1 driver, indicating who’s view of the road we are seeing.

Opie was commissioned to create this series by Artwise to devise an exciting and original way of showcasing the Honda F1 team to engage audiences beyond the racetrack. Originally displayed as a 60-metre-long installation, Opie was selected to be part of this project due to his ongoing obsession with movement and car culture as subject matter.

Through his ‘depersonalised’ visual language, Opie’s Imagine You Are Driving (Fast) is compelling in its depiction of movement and dynamism through the use of static images that are highly simplified. In juxtaposing the portrait with the Grand Prix track, the viewer is invited to take on the perspective of the sitter and imagine a journey of their own.

Julian Opie, born in 1958, dances through the contemporary art scene with a distinctive digital allure. A trailblazer of the 1980s New British Sculpture movement, Opie's work is a highly stylised blend of Pop Art and minimalism which navigates the intersection of technology and visual expression. From his early experiments with computer-generated art to his iconic portraits and animated installations, Opie's work exudes a captivating simplicity. His signature style, marked by bold lines and reduced forms, is internationally recognisable and has made him a key player in British contemporary art.