Copperhead-Bite
Robert Rauschenberg (1925~2008)
Robert Rauschenburg
Robert Rauscenburg is one of the most famous painters and graphic artists of the 20th century. Rauschenburg’s artworks are known to anticipate the pop art movement. His most well known collection, Combines, uses unique materials that do not divide sculptures and painting.
Copperhead-Bite
The Copperhead-Bite collection introduces artworks containing photos printed on copper using the screen printing technique. The screen printing artwork is made by using paint to print through a silk screen with holes. The technique is still commonly used today, and it was used by a lot of artists like Andy Warhol, Patrick Caulfield, and Richard Hamilton. In fact, Robert Rauschenburg had learned the screen printing technique from Andy Warhol, in his work space, known as the Factory. Rauschenburg added his own unique details by splattering chemicals on his artwork for printing his own hand on it. The Copperhead in the title of the collection Copperhead-Bite is a type of snake that has a skin color that is similar to the color of copper.
Copperhead-Bite
1985
Robert Rauschenburg
Copperhead-Bite
1985
Robert Rauschenburg
The photos in the Copperhead-Bite collection are photos that were taken by Rauschenburg in 1984, in Chile. Chile, in 1984, was experiencing great chaos under the dictatorship of the former president, Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. A lot of citizens have lost their lives standing against Pinochet’s government. Rauschenburg stated that his artworks represent his support toward the Chile citizens and respect to all of them who lost their lives fighting for their beliefs. His artwork contains photos of newspaper articles that explain about 200 people who had been arrested for participating in the anti-government rallies.
Chile
Durning the dictatorship of Pinochet
Chile
During the dictatorship of Pinochet
“At a chaotic moment like this, why is an artist like Robert Rauschengurg doing an exhibition focusing on Chile’s situation?”
“If you can’t find an answer to that question in the reflection of the copper and the warmth in those shadows, you don’t need me– you need eyes that can see.”
Robert Rauschenburg (1985)
