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i destroyed the tennis ball (2023) is a limited edition screenprint by david shrigley featuring a guilty-looking poodle alongside the blunt confession “i destroyed the tennis ball”. printed in 26 colours with a two-varnish overlay on somerset satin tub sized 410gsm paper, the work captures the dry humour and expressive simplicity that have become so characteristic of shrigley’s animal drawings.
there’s something wonderfully ridiculous about this print that immediately made me smile. the guilty-looking poodle paired with the confession “i destroyed the tennis ball” feels exactly like the sort of unnecessary honesty that only exists in david shrigley’s world.
what i enjoy is how much personality he creates from such a simple drawing. the expression, the awkward line work and the matter-of-fact statement combine to produce something that’s both charming and genuinely funny. the dog appears to know exactly what it has done, but offers no explanation and, crucially, no apology.
for me, that’s where the humour really works. shrigley takes a completely ordinary situation and gives it just enough human personality to turn it into a little story. the words provide the context, but the awkwardness of the drawing leaves plenty for the viewer to fill in.
it’s a piece that never takes itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works so well. the image is immediately accessible, but the more you look at the relationship between the poodle and the text, the more character it seems to have.
david shrigley has developed one of the most distinctive visual languages in contemporary british art, combining loose drawing, deadpan humour and observations of everyday life. his work has attracted an international audience across contemporary art, design and popular culture, while his limited edition prints form an important part of his wider practice.
i destroyed the tennis ball is an edition of 125 and is presented in mint condition, unframed and retained in its original sealed packaging as issued by the publisher. the print has never been framed or displayed.
collection: luck 02
medium: 26-colour screenprint with a two-varnish overlay
paper: somerset satin tub sized 410gsm
edition: edition of 125
signature: signed
condition: mint
framing: unframed
packaging: retained in the original sealed packaging as issued by the publisher
display history: never framed or displayed
delivery
complimentary personal delivery is available within brighton & hove. for uk and international orders, we arrange appropriate specialist art delivery and can provide fully insured, tracked delivery where required.
delivery is additional to the artwork price.
please contact us for a quotation before purchasing.
i destroyed the tennis ball (2023) is a limited edition screenprint by david shrigley featuring a guilty-looking poodle alongside the blunt confession “i destroyed the tennis ball”. printed in 26 colours with a two-varnish overlay on somerset satin tub sized 410gsm paper, the work captures the dry humour and expressive simplicity that have become so characteristic of shrigley’s animal drawings.
there’s something wonderfully ridiculous about this print that immediately made me smile. the guilty-looking poodle paired with the confession “i destroyed the tennis ball” feels exactly like the sort of unnecessary honesty that only exists in david shrigley’s world.
what i enjoy is how much personality he creates from such a simple drawing. the expression, the awkward line work and the matter-of-fact statement combine to produce something that’s both charming and genuinely funny. the dog appears to know exactly what it has done, but offers no explanation and, crucially, no apology.
for me, that’s where the humour really works. shrigley takes a completely ordinary situation and gives it just enough human personality to turn it into a little story. the words provide the context, but the awkwardness of the drawing leaves plenty for the viewer to fill in.
it’s a piece that never takes itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works so well. the image is immediately accessible, but the more you look at the relationship between the poodle and the text, the more character it seems to have.
david shrigley has developed one of the most distinctive visual languages in contemporary british art, combining loose drawing, deadpan humour and observations of everyday life. his work has attracted an international audience across contemporary art, design and popular culture, while his limited edition prints form an important part of his wider practice.
i destroyed the tennis ball is an edition of 125 and is presented in mint condition, unframed and retained in its original sealed packaging as issued by the publisher. the print has never been framed or displayed.
collection: luck 02
medium: 26-colour screenprint with a two-varnish overlay
paper: somerset satin tub sized 410gsm
edition: edition of 125
signature: signed
condition: mint
framing: unframed
packaging: retained in the original sealed packaging as issued by the publisher
display history: never framed or displayed
delivery
complimentary personal delivery is available within brighton & hove. for uk and international orders, we arrange appropriate specialist art delivery and can provide fully insured, tracked delivery where required.
delivery is additional to the artwork price.
please contact us for a quotation before purchasing.