The homage of ALL homages!!!
In a dashing gesture of amazed respect, Mexican artist Felipe Ehrenberg (1943)
recently made it known to a reduced circle of friends, that he had completed his latest
work of art, one in homage to Marcel Duchamp.
(Please consult attached photograph.)
Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ehrenberg founded the Beau Geste Press whilst living in
England (1968-1974) and is recognized as a pioneer creator of artists books. In an
informal conversation, Ehrenberg declared this to be a "a public and ceremonial
acknowledgment to the lord of all art produced by the West after 1917".
This relatively small contemporary ready made (15 by 10 by 32 centimetres) is also a
mass produced 'ready-made', made out of plastic. It sits on an artificial-wood base.
Emulating Duchamp's irreverant piece, it is signed R. Mutter – 2007 on its right side.
Pictured by the outstanding photographer Lawrence Siegelstamm, the work was lavishly
praised by leading duchampian expert, Beatrice F. Stellae.
"I have never in my life seen such a forceful and convincing synthesis of Duchamp's
intentions," writes Stellae in an extensive essay, "which, as we know, was to shift the
focus of art from physical craft to intellectual interpretation. What is most surprising -at
least to me- is that it wasn't made by a French or an American artist, but by a Mexican
artist living in Brazil, no less. I am amazed."
It was not announced when Ehrenberg's urinal would be shown to the public, if at all,
and if so, it may not even reach US museums. "The reason for this", explained the artist,
"is that I am an inveterate smoker of hand-rolled, corn-wrapped cigarrettes."
Makes sense.
© 2008- Dwight Laffer-Jonness // Das Neuste Kunstmagazin Heute
