Jannis Kounellis

Untitled (Sewing Machine)

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About this artwork

From 1989 to 2005 Kounellis made a series of works produced in editions, described as multiples, in which he incorporated elements drawn from the vocabulary of his earlier practice. Perhaps referencing Joseph Beuys’s multiples, the works comprise organic and industrial materials, as well as painted lettering and found objects, arranged in compact vitrines. The idea of making worlds in boxes can also be linked to Surrealism and Joseph Cornell’s boxes. The objects were chosen for their tactile or sensory qualities – for example, a kitchen knife, a sewing machine, coffee beans or hanks of hair. Compartmentalised into display cases traditionally reserved for museum artefacts, Kounellis raises the status of these ordinary items, inviting critical examination and artistic contemplation.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Jannis Kounellis (1936 - 2017) Greek
  • title:
    Untitled (Sewing Machine)
  • date created:
    2004
  • materials:
    Metal, glass, sewing machine and coat
  • measurements:
    70.50 x 49.80 x 21.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00585
  • gallery:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Jannis Kounellis

Jannis Kounellis