February 2001
New acquisitions from Armleder to Zittel
John M Armleder, Daniele Buetti, Sylvie Fleury, Joseph Kosuth, Gerold Miller, Kirsten Mosher, Gerwald Rockenschaub, Ugo Rondinone, Franz Erhard Walther, Andrea Zittel
Gerold Miller, Sylvie Fleurie, Kirsten Mosher
Gerwald Rockenschaub,
Franz Erhard Walther
Andrea Zittel
John M Armleder
John M Armleder
*1948 in GenevaDon't do it!, 1997/2000
Readymades of the 20th Century, F. S. (Furniture Sculptures)John M. Armleder's work uses images, objects, installations, sculptures to address the styles, dogmas and isms of 20th century art by simultaneously paraphrasing, destroying and redefining that art.
In this sense Don't do it! brings together the most famous readymades, from Duchamp's urinal (1917) via Warhol's detergent boxes, Beuys' felt objects and Tiravanija's teabag (1998) - but all as new acquisitions fresh from the market.
Don't do it! represents a double dethroning of the concept of the original in art: the readymade, which appeared with the intention of destroying the aura of the artistic original and the (false) ideals and utopias associated with this has itself risen to the status of "icon" in the course of time. Armleder is now knocking it off its pedestal again for the second time, focusing on the essential artistic thinking that is now truly "original".
