Does this sculpture look familiar to you? You may recognise the Mannekin Pis as an iconic Belgian landmark - here Axel Bottenberg has re-contextualised the Mannekin, and shrunk him down to size to fit into a grubby pub urinal. Looking at his own reflection in the style of René Magritte’s “La Reproduction Interdite”, Bottenberg has even placed a facsimile on the dirty toilet floor of the original book featured in Magritte’s painting - Edgar Alan Poe’s “Aventures d'Arthur Gordon Pym”.
- Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 6cm
- Price: £3600.00
Does this sculpture look familiar to you? You may recognise the Mannekin Pis as an iconic Belgian landmark - here Axel Bottenberg has re-contextualised this symbol of rebellion, and shrunk him down to size to fit into a grubby pub urinal. Looking at his own reflection in the style of René Magritte’s “La Reproduction Interdite”, Bottenberg has even placed a facsimile on the dirty toilet floor of the original book featured in Magritte’s painting - Edgar Alan Poe’s “Aventures d'Arthur Gordon Pym”. This sculpture is an act of rebellion in itself, by rejecting the title of the Magritte original, which translates to 'Not to be Reproduced', parallel to another Magritte pastiche in Bottenberg's oeuvre. By pairing low art iconography and found objects with high art references, Bottenberg has produced an entertaining sculpture which demands a second look. “I choose to find the middle ground – I challenge art in making paintings that are sculptures and sculptures that are paintings, and using visual information that’s not necessarily from the sphere of art” Although this piece is undoubtedly kitsch, it has been carefully engineered by Bottenberg with an astounding attention to detail. Made using a mixture of found objects, a photo stand, and stainless steel, this unique piece makes a statement about art and culture. Making 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, 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 La Reproduction Interdite by Axel Bottenberg