Is it a painting? Is it a sculpture? This multimedia composition by Axel Bottenberg challenges the boundaries of art to make a humorous pun about McDonald's, art, and life. With a tone of absurdity and a blank canvas in tow, this is an unapologetically Bottenberg piece which is full of vigour.
- Dimensions: 40 x 50 x 5cm
- Price: £3400.00
This composition by Axel Bottenberg is a humorous visual pun about McDonald's, art, and life. Taking inspiration from a French McDonald's whilst on his travels, Bottenberg decided to recreate a garish McDonald's sign as a multifaceted sculptural piece. What could be considered an anti-painting, a blank canvas dominates the foreground of the piece, while the focal artwork occurs outside of the canvas. Made using canvas and plywood, this piece is in line with Bottenberg's obsession with the Ronald McDonald clown, who is a recurring character throughout his oeuvre. Bottenberg is obsessed with McDonald's as a cultural phenomenon, and embeds this imagery into his work as a commentary on the rise of global capitalism and mass consumerism since 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. “I like the idea that it’s a blank canvas, and that the artwork is happening outside of the canvas” Since graduating in 1989 with a degree in printmaking, Bottenberg’s practice has blossomed into an unusual yet exciting body of work, tackling a variety of subject matter. Art historical pastiche and references to popular culture are common themes within Bottenberg's works, and he often contrasts high and low art iconography to provoke response and shock factor. The pop culture references maintain a familiarity within his work, taking inspiration from 1960s Pop Art, and its resurgence in the 1990s by artists such as Jeff Koons - this familiarity ensures his work is 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 full of vigour; a perfect addition for any contemporary art collection, 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 Your Portrait In The Style Of A Famous Clown £3.99 by Axel Bottenberg