Black Square on White
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- Black Square on White
- 1996/2001
- b&w photograph, text
- 39,8 × 37,3 cm
The Work "Black Square on White" makes reference to the master of modernism, Kazimir Malevich, as well as to the need for radical expression and for the visibility of contemporary art in the public domain. Tanja Ostojić plays with the dichotomy of visibility and non-visibility of radical structures within art, in works which were created throughout the last century but often received no public attention via prominent institutions. The act of trimming her pubic hair into the form of a square in reference to Malevich—and distributing a photo of this on postcards during the 49th Venice Biennial in 2001—served to confirm the mechanisms of power within the art world. Ostojić gave only the curator, Harald Szeemann, the right to see the original, and she subsequently performed as the muse at his side during the Biennale’s opening days. Hence, the artist tackled questions of the original and the copy, as well as the modalities of attaining access to either or both, evolving out of political structures laid bare in a satire addressing the progressive currents within art history. W.S.