Friday 19 January 2018

Marcel Broodthaers - 'Egg shells and pin' 1965

Marcel  Broodthaers  ‘Coquilles d'oeufs et épingle’ 1965
Collection Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Bruxelles / photo : J. Geleyns / Ro scan

After the energy crisis of 1974, the flame extinguishes from the pipe. The second oil shock of 1979-1980 increases hopelessness. Mass unemployment, price increases and inflation lead to large-scale savings measures. Around 1976 the ‘punk rock’ and the ‘new wave’ stand out. The soft values of nature, peace and love make way for the hard aesthetics of the metropolis, chaos and provocation. 'Make love, not war' becomes 'No future', the long hair becomes short spines and the flower a safety pin.  Marcel Broodthaers appears to be ahead of his time!
(source: De Standaard Kunstbibliotheek; Van Marcel Broodthaers tot Guillaume Bijl)