Taking its place among many interpretations of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, 'Ronald Man' by Axel Bottenberg is a life-sized sculpture made from plywood. Engineered to look like large wooden toy, the "object-ness" of the piece is central to the work, and references McDonald's as a cultural phenomenon.
- Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 3cm
- Price: £11200.00
Taking its place among many interpretations of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, 'Ronald Man' by Axel Bottenberg is a life-sized sculpture made from plywood. Engineered to look like large wooden toy, the "object-ness" of the piece is central to the work, and references McDonald's as a cultural phenomenon. Through a kitsch lens, Bottenberg has blurred the boundaries of painting and sculpture to create this statement piece, which is in line with Bottenberg's obsession with McDonald's. Ronald McDonald is a recurring motif within Bottenberg's oeuvre, and is viewed by the artist as the ultimate icon of modern pop culture - pop cultural and art historical references are prominent throughout Bottenberg's works, and are a way of making his works instantly recognisable and accessible to a wide audience. Bottenberg's works actively challenge the contemporary sphere of art, provoking his viewers and providing social commentary with a totally unapologetic attitude. “With Ronald McDonald, I’ve painted him so many times that I could paint him with my eyes shut” Bottenberg's works generate visual puns about a myriad of concerns such as the rise of global capitalism in the 1980s, a 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. Building and engineering objects is equally as important as making images for Bottenberg - it's a a way for him to make something real and tactile, and satisfies an urge which painting doesn't quite reach. The 3D elements of his works create exciting technical challenges for Bottenberg, as well as generating visual impact, which keeps his work engaging and distinctive. Parallel to many other of Bottenberg’s works, this painting contrasts art historical themes with low art iconography, combining the two to create an unsettling yet entertaining composition. Bottenberg’s artworks seek to provoke a response and shock factor, whilst the pop culture references maintain a familiarity - his works are endlessly entertaining and full of vigour -perfect for any contemporary art collection.
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 Ronald Man by Axel Bottenberg