Untitled
/1
- Untitled
- 1966
- paper mounted on paper, pencil
- 45,1 × 33 cm
In 1966, as a “by-product” of his painting, Július Koller initiated the “Junk Culture” series, which he continued for many years and which became an indispensable part of his work as an artist. In this prolific series, the method consisted of dismembering and collecting waste paints and other materials from painting work, such as paper palettes or mixing bowls, and subsequently fixing them, or alternatively their photographic documentation, to a surface. From paper remnants, used albums, books, posters, and wrappers he created simple minimal compositions, based on a technique of decollage and dripping. Koller felt a natural closeness to junk culture and systematically surrounded himself with junk. Undoubtedly, junk presented the raison d’être of his artistic being. He collected surfaces with random paint stains and drips and textiles with marks from the rub of brushes; he was fascinated by the structures and imprints that remained after the upper layers were torn away. D.G.