Robert Rauschenberg "Travelling '70–'76"

Exhibition 09.05 – 14.09.08

In the 1950s the American artist Robert Rauschenberg (*1925) began to consider the boundaries between painting and sculpture. By integrating found objects such as light bulbs, leftover wallpaper or car tyres into his works, the "Combine Paintings" and the free-standing "Combines" emerged bringing international acclaim to Rauschenberg; next to Jasper Johns he is regarded to be the forerunner of American Pop Art.

From this time onwards the artist incorporates what he finds in his immediate environment – everyday objects, elements from his life: "Everything stirs my curiosity, I like to be baffled by trivial things as well. No need for grandiose gestures or daring artistic creations. It is sufficient to be dedicated to what constantly surrounds us. The insignificant also has dignity, a secret." 

After his extraordinarily successful time in New York, Rauschenberg began his search once again for a new location and new possibilities in his artistic creativity in the 1960s. In 1970 he left New York and moved to Captiva Island, Florida. The following years were marked by numerous trips to Europe, Israel and India, where Rauschenberg experienced new cultures and forms of expression. 

The exhibition "Travelling ’70–’76" places its emphasis on exactly those series and works that are the result of his personal travel experiences: the until now seldom seen work groups "Cardboards" (1971), "Venetians" (1972-1973), "Early Egyptians" (1973-1974), "Made in Israel" (1974), "Hoarfrosts" (1974-1975) and "Jammers" (1975-1976). These series are of an unusual plainness, freshness and precision, and were created with new materials and techniques. Besides found objects such as stones, rope, wire or glass vases, Rauschenberg uses predominantly cardboard and fabric here: With the "Cardboards" Rauschenberg shows his disposition towards the Monochrome and Abstraction; the traces of wear and tear on the found cardboard boxes hint at their history and usage. In "Hoarfrosts" the printed and partly luminously coloured fabrics overlap and tell of disintegration and states of limbo, of veiling and transparency.

All six series between the years 1970-76 show a lightness and great creativity with which Rauschenberg incorporates his life into his work – and, therefore, the only thing that the artist fears its that "I might run out of world".

This international touring exhibition was organised by the Fundação de Serralves, Porto, coproduced with the Haus der Kunst and the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina (Madre), Neapel
Curator: Mirta d'Argenzio

Supported by the Dr. Karl Wamsler Foundation