The work of Rirkrit Tiravanija (b. 1961 Buenos
Aires) has long been reverberating through the
world of contemporary art. Focusing on the
social role of the artist, he often invites viewers
to inhabit, activate and participate in his work
by cooking, eating, drinking and playing together.
In the course of his 30-year-long career, he has
made installations, painting, printmaking, video,
photography, mixed-media assemblages and
music an integral part of his practice.
Newsprint connecting politics and the individual
is an on-going aspect of Tiravanija’s art. He explores
symbols in the collective consciousness, mines
historical and contemporary narratives for imagery,
examines bold aphorisms, allegories and political
statements and interweaves the thematics of
recognition with the dynamics of transmission.
Rirkrit sourced the texts for the artwork presented
at the benefit auction from the opera Hanjo
by the Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa,
which was performed at Munich’s Haus der Kunst
in 2023. He then printed them on Japanese
dailies, prompting viewers to reconsider their interpretation of news across diverse languages and
perspectives.
Acrylic gouache and newspaper on linen
Each 60 × 80 cm
Copyright: Rirkrit Tiravanija
Courtesy: Rirkrit Tiravanija
Provenance: donated by the artist
