Berlin and London
November, 2021
U2, to mark 30 years since the release of Achtung Baby, again commissioned Thierry Noir. On this occasion to create a triptych of commemorative works of art across three distinctive objects intrinsic to Achtung Baby: a Trabant 601 car, a full size section of original Berlin Wall and an original vinyl Achtung Baby test pressing.
One of the most significant records of the nineties and of U2’s career, Achtung Baby was recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin at a time when the city was at the political epicentre of a changing world and the Berlin Wall was falling. Officially released on November 18th 1991, the album was produced by long time U2 collaborators, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno with Steve Lillywhite and drew myriad references from the West Berlin underground art and music scene of the era.
On the recommendation of mutual friend Wim Wenders the band sought out and commissioned Noir to paint a series of Trabant 601 cars for the album art of Achtung Baby and for use as lighting rigs in their upcoming Zoo TV World Tour. The combination of the iconic East German automobile, a symbol of the GDR, and Noir’s artwork was a fusion of East Berlin meets West Berlin and imbued the visual aesthetic of Achtung Baby with the cultural zeitgeist of the time.
Hansa Studios Exhibition
Köthener Str. 38, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Phillips, New Now, London
30 Berkeley Square, London, United Kingdom, W1J 6EX
Thierry Noir
Achtung Baby
signed, titled, and dated ‘THIERRY NOIR 2021 ACHTUNG BABY’ on the reverse
enamel and urethane paint on Trabant 601 bonnet in Duroplast
85.5 x 125.5 x 13.2 cm (33 5/8 x 49 3/8 x 5 1/4 in.)
Phillips Catalogue Essay
This unique artwork comprises the bonnet taken directly from the 2021 Thierry Noir Trabant 601 commissioned by U2 as part of the celebrations around the 30th anniversary of their seminal album Achtung Baby. Achtung Baby was officially released on November 18th 1991 and recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin.
Following exhibit at Hansa Studios in Berlin to mark the anniversary, U2 and Noir are offering this one off commemorative artwork for sale in support of the non-profit organization the Berlin Institute for Sound and Music.
‘U2 and I are offering the bonnet of my 2021 Achtung Baby Trabant in support of the Berlin Institute for Sound & Music: to help continue the energy in Berlin and help the young generations who are trying to show their talents.’ – Thierry Noir
Phillips Lot Page:
https://www.phillips.com/detail/thierry-noir/UK010821/61
Interview with Phillips:
https://www.phillips.com/article/87547156/achtung-baby-at-30
