Joseph Kosuth

(USA) *1945 in Toledo, Ohio

Kosuth is one of the most important representatives of Conceptual Art. In his work, he investigates the relationship term/reality and the problem of art/art criticism. Between 1965 and 1974, Kosuth, whose artistic development was greatly influenced by the philosophical writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein, dealt with the self-referential meaning of language. Towards the end of the seventies, Kosuth started the series “Text/Context”, quoting statements on art and language and their socio-cultural contexts on poster walls. In another series, he combines upside-down copies of old master paintings with text excerpts from Sigmund Freud. Kosuth’s series “Essays” (2000) consists of colour pictures of his early works to which he added fragmented quotes by, among others, Beckett, Derrida and Foucault. In addition to his occupation with image and language, through his staging of rooms and concrete objects Kosuth has also explored the relationship between concept and object.

Exhibits