Dimensions: 9 x 22 x 9cm
Price: £3100.00

In Axel Bottenberg's 'David', three seemingly disparate objects meld together into a perfect artistic composition. A sculpture formed from a multitude of happy accidents - a statue of David, gifted to the artist by a friend called David, stands tall on a trophy plinth, branded by a 'House of Fraser' badge, which also reads the name David. Perhaps all things do come in threes? A typically Bottenberg artwork, 'David' is a prime example of how the artist contrasts high and low art to form artworks that are full of impact and character. Made with minimal intervention, this piece is made up of a collection of found objects; a gifted statue of David amalgamates harmoniously with a House of Fraser badge, found on the floor by Levenshulme train station in Manchester. We are left to wonder the story of this David - does he know he dropped his badge? Bottenberg is renowned for working with found objects, often pairing them with contrasting imagery to create both challenging yet entertaining compositions. “I always have my eyes on the floor for finding interesting things” Serendipity is key in Bottenberg's works - this element of chance keeps his works current, exciting, and distinctive amongst his contemporaries. Although this piece is undoubtedly kitsch, it has been engineered by Bottenberg with an astounding attention to detail. Working with and building objects is an important aspect of Bottenberg's practice - it satisfies an urge which can't be done by painting alone, and is a way for him to establish a distinctive style within his oeuvre which blurs the lines of painting and sculpture. Bottenberg's works are charged with irony and social commentary, perhaps a reflection of his time studying alongside the YBAs (Young British Artists) at the Royal College of Art in the 1980s. Bottenberg's obsession with art history and pop culture ensure his works are humorous, familiar and accessible to a wide audience, as opposed to only art world professionals. Any piece within Bottenberg's collection is a statement piece that is unapologetic and of vigour; a perfect addition for any contemporary art collection, business space, or home.

Axel Bottenberg is a mixed media artist who works to create bright, compelling compositions which blur the boundaries of painting and sculpture. Born in 1961 in Darmstadt, Germany, Bottenberg studied Fine Art and Printmaking at the Canterbury College of Fine Art, and later Printmaking at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. Bottenberg is now based at Bankley Studios in Levenshulme, Manchester, and is renowned for challenging the sphere of contemporary art through his practice. Bottenberg's oeuvre is imbued with entertaining pop culture and art historical references, and his works often reject art tradition through juxtaposing high and low art iconographies. Bottenberg is heavily inspired by 1960s Pop Art and its resurgence in the 1990s, which he portrays through his own eclectic lens and bold colour palette. Bottenberg's researched approach gives scope for sardonic appraisals within a varied, eccentric body of work. Any piece from Axel Bottenberg's oeuvre would be a valuable and compelling asset to any contemporary art collection, business space or home.