Untitled (Destroyed Double Bass), 1968

About the Work

In his so-called outbursts of anger ('colères'), Arman would saw through, shatter and burn everyday objects, such as musical instruments, clocks and household effects. He then reassembled the remains of his aggressive work process and preserved it in a Perspex case. These works contrast with another series of works by the artist: his 'accumulations', which consist of ordered arrangements of similar yet individual objects. What interested Arman in these two contrasting approaches was the cycle of production, consumption and destruction.