MARTIN KIPPENBERGER Das Ende des Alphabets (Prototype for the Edition).
Three part sculpture of inflatable rubber on wood, cork on wood and acrylic on wood, 1989. Each part approximately 800x800x200 mm; 31 1/2x31 1/2x7 5/8 inches. The artist's prototype for the edition of 7 plus 3 artist's proofs.
Provenance: Gifted by the artist to his studio assistant, Ulrich Strothjohann, Cologne; Private Collection, New York, acquired from the above; their sale; Phillips, London, 30 June 2017, lot 142.
Published: Muthesius (editor), Martin Kippenberger, Ten Years After, Cologne, 1991 (another example from the edition illustrated on the rear cover); Martin Kippenberger: Put Your Eye in Your Mouth, San Francisco, 1991, pages 286-87 (another from the edition illustrated and exhibited); Taschen and Riemschneider (editors), Kippenberger, Cologne, 1997 (another example from the edition illustrated inside rear cover); Capitain and Grässlin, Martin Kippenberger: Multiples, Catalogue Raisonné, Antwerp, 2003, page 47 (illustrated); Friedrich Christian Flick Collection im Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, 2004, page 209 (another work from the edition illustrated); Hermes, Martin Kippenberger, Cologne, 2005, page 103 (another from the edition illustrated); Martin Kippenberger, XYZ, Vienna, 2016, pages 29 and 198 (another from the edition illustrated and exhibited).
Exhibited: "Put Your Eye in Your Mouth," San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, June 13-August 25, 1991; "Martin Kippenberger: Multiples," Kunstverein Braunschweig, March 1-May 4, 2003; "Friedrich Christian Flick Collection im Hamburger Bahnhof," Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin, September 22, 2004-August 7, 2005; "Posters and Invitation Cards 1977-1997," Dickinson, London, October 5-31, 2015; "Martin Kippenberger, XYZ," Kunstforum Wien, Vienna, September 8-November 27, 2016.
Ulrich Strothjohann was Kippenberger's (1953-1997) studio assistant, constructing many of his more complex works through the 1980s. He was rewarded for his services with various artwork, including the current installation. This prototype presents Kippenberger's original vision for the work but for technical reasons it was decided to switch materials for the Y and the Z. In the edition, the Z ismanufactured from a packing crate and the Y is painted rather than cork. It could be said that these adjustments, which were made to facilitate construction, obscure Kippenberger's first instincts.
Das Ende des Alphabets is an expression of Kippenberger's fascination with the mechanics of communication and understanding, contrasting the finality, and familiarity, of the last letters of the alphabet with the many questions raised by the unexpectedly heterodox materials.
In addition to the current lot, we are also pleased to offer through private sale, a separate single collection consisting of 169 Kippenberger posters and approximately 170 Kippenberger invitation cards. For additional details and to receive a list of all the works, please contact the department.
