Schal ohne Arafat, 1990

About the Work

The caviar in ‘Scarf without Arafat’ has been robbed of its glamour. The brownish appearance of the luxury food flung at the canvas in an Informel-style gesture confirms its loss of status. The numbering of individual beads of caviar suggests an attempt to introduce a degree of order. No numerical logic is discernible and the title defies all connection with what we see. An ironic commentary on Arte Povera and formal references to Art Informel offer points of departure for an interpretation. Though it challenges the viewer to take a stance, the work itself remains ambiguous.