A Spiritual Space (Shrine), 2022

At the Modern & Contemporary Art auction of Sotheby’s in Milan on 26 November 2025, Jan Fabre’s A Spiritual Space (Shrine) achieved an impressive €508,000, far surpassing its opening bid of €100,000 to €150,000. The compact sculpture, lined with hundreds of pieces of deep precious coral, opens onto an unexpectedly vast visual field. As curator Melania Rossi notes, it is “a container which, however, does not contain the consecrated host, nor any relic or sacred image. The internal decoration is so dense that it makes you lose your gaze, as when you try to observe the starry sky. A small empty space becomes so infinitely large, large enough to hold anything one wants to imagine.” A key element of the piece is its careful and responsible use of natural materials. All coral used is sourced ecologically via Enzo Liverino 1984 of Torre del Greco, a company committed to the protection of coral environments, using only certified raw materials legally harvested in areas where the coral is not endangered and adhering to strict fishing rules protected by international organisations such as CITES. The record-breaking sale reaffirms Jan Fabre’s position as one of the most compelling contemporary artists of his generation and highlights the enduring allure of his works, which combine conceptual depth with refined craftsmanship. Jan Fabre is represented by 21Art (https://twentyoneart.com/), an Art Gallery located in Rome, Montecarlo, Padua, Treviso, and soon also in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. His works are currently visible at 21Art Treviso in the solo exhibition Songs of the Canaries and Songs of the Gypsies, curated by Dimitri Ozerkov, open to the public until January 16, 2026. The artist will also be presented by 21Art at Arte Fiera Bologna (February 6-8, 2026), the longest-running of the Italian art fairs.