Kippenberger, Martin (1953-1997) - 1985 Two Piece Monument for Unmusical Unemployed (Sotheby's New York, 2006)
Oil on canvas in two parts; 199.2 x 122 cm.
Martin Kippenberger was a German artist known for his extremely prolific output in a dizzying range of styles and media as well as his provocative, jocular and hard-drinking public persona. During the last 10 years of his life he created a series of drawings on hotel stationery, which are commonly referred to as the 'hotel drawings'. He died at age 44 from liver cancer.
Kippenberger was "widely regarded as one of the most talented German artists of his generation," according to Roberta Smith of the New York Times. He was at the center of a generation of German enfants terribles including Albert Oehlen, Markus Oehlen, Werner Büttner, Georg Herold, Dieter Göls, and Günther Förg. He collected and commissioned work by many of his peers: some of his exhibition posters were designed by such prominent artists as Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Rosemarie Trockel and Mike Kelley.
His art garnered some recognition in the mid-nineties when three pieces were used by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers as the cover artwork on the three singles released from their third album, The Holy Bible, in 1994.
Kippenberger's artistic reputation and influence has grown since his death. He has been the subject of a several large retrospective exhibitions, including at the Tate Modern in 2006 and "the Problem Perspective" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in 2008; the exhibition traveled to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 2009. In 2008 his sculpture of a toad being crucified called Zuerst die Füsse ("First the Feet") was allegedly condemned by Pope Benedict as blasphemous.
Kippenberger, Martin (1953-1997) - 1985 Two Piece Monument for Unmusical Unemployed (Sotheby's New York, 2006)
Oil on canvas in two parts; 199.2 x 122 cm.
Martin Kippenberger was a German artist known for his extremely prolific output in a dizzying range of styles and media as well as his provocative, jocular and hard-drinking public persona. During the last 10 years of his life he created a series of drawings on hotel stationery, which are commonly referred to as the 'hotel drawings'. He died at age 44 from liver cancer.
Kippenberger was "widely regarded as one of the most talented German artists of his generation," according to Roberta Smith of the New York Times. He was at the center of a generation of German enfants terribles including Albert Oehlen, Markus Oehlen, Werner Büttner, Georg Herold, Dieter Göls, and Günther Förg. He collected and commissioned work by many of his peers: some of his exhibition posters were designed by such prominent artists as Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Rosemarie Trockel and Mike Kelley.
His art garnered some recognition in the mid-nineties when three pieces were used by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers as the cover artwork on the three singles released from their third album, The Holy Bible, in 1994.
Kippenberger's artistic reputation and influence has grown since his death. He has been the subject of a several large retrospective exhibitions, including at the Tate Modern in 2006 and "the Problem Perspective" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in 2008; the exhibition traveled to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 2009. In 2008 his sculpture of a toad being crucified called Zuerst die Füsse ("First the Feet") was allegedly condemned by Pope Benedict as blasphemous.