Lot 13 R

The work ‘Abschlag’ is a strong example of Franz West’s Kombi-Werke (combi-works): installations in which he combined a range of individual elements such as furniture, sculpture, his well-known Passstücke (Adaptives), videos, and other works from different periods into new configurations. In doing so, West created hybrid installations that function as a kind of evolving retrospective or self-curated overview of his artistic practice.
A particularly distinctive feature of this work is the use of newspapers, a recurring material in West’s oeuvre. In his early furniture pieces, newspapers were often included to spark conversation, subtly shifting the role of the viewer from observer to participant. In this installation, the newspapers are laid out on the floor, raising the question: are they meant to be read, or are they simply part of the visual language of the piece? Unlike earlier works where newspapers were replaced daily, here they are only changed when the installation moves to a new location. The newspapers reflect the time and place of its last installation, in this case, Cologne.
Franz West, a self-taught artist, is celebrated for his participatory approach to art. His works invite physical interaction, rejecting the traditional, passive relationship between viewer and artwork. Instead, he fosters a dynamic exchange: visitors are encouraged to sit, recline, or otherwise engage with the work, turning each encounter into a unique, personal experience.
Deeply influenced by the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, West viewed his works as extensions of the psyche, objects through which unconscious impulses and social behaviors might be explored. His art resists static interpretation, offering instead a playful, probing, and often humorous space for reflection and exchange.