Media: Silkscreen Print on plywood
Dimensions: 68 x 39 x 2cm
Price: £900.00

This piece is a showcase of Axel Bottenberg's astounding printmaking abilities. A rare and recent foray into silkscreen print, here we are presented with a golden Gilbert and George, awarded with red noses. A reference to 'The Singing Sculpture' live sculptures, Bottenberg has captured a still of the iconic artists, silkscreen printed onto plywood in gold, black, red, and white. This is a timeless piece which stands out amongst Bottenberg's ouevre, which has developed predominantly into painting and sculpture. For Bottenberg, printmaking was the first way for him to 'copy and paste' images, which he is now able to do digitally. Revisiting his printmaking methods with roaring success, Bottenberg has produced a timeless work of art which would make a priceless investment. A versatile artist, Bottenberg is renowned for his references to art history and pop culture within his work. His academic interest in art history ensures an informed tone within his works, whilst his pop cultural references keep his work accessible to a wide audience, which is a key aspect of his practice. “I really wanted to show my skills as a printmaker” Bottenberg's works generate visual puns about a myriad of political and cultural concerns. This includes the rise of global capitalism in the 1980s, the time in which he studied alongside the YBAs (Young British Artists) at the Royal College of Art. This environment inevitably impacted Bottenberg's practice, which is imbued with irony and social commentary. Graduating with a degree in printmaking, Bottenberg's practice has blossomed and developed into an unusual and exciting body of work, tackling a variety of subject matter through a variety of materials. A theme parallel with many other of Bottenberg’s works, this composition contrasts the high art culture of Gilbert and George with the low art iconography of a Ronald McDonald red nose, which is a recurring motif throughout his body of work. Bottenberg’s artworks seek to provoke a response and shock factor, whilst the pop culture references maintain a distinctive familiarity - his works are endlessly entertaining, accessible and full of vigour. This is a rare piece from Bottenberg's oeuvre, making it a worthwhile investment, and perfect 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.

Other images of Golden Boys by Axel Bottenberg