Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
Paintings League takes elements of shirts belonging to some of the most iconic clubs in Europe and, with attentive use of acrylic, creates paintings out of them. Inter, Chelsea, Bayern München, Galatasaray, Manchester United, Ajax, Marseille: they and many more feature in the book, published by Hatje Cantz. In each case you get a shot of a fan, bedecked in the source material, stood next to the resulting painting; you also get a full-page shot of the abstract artwork in all its glory.
Taken as a whole, the series of pieces puts you in mind of what might have happened if renowned American painter Mark Rothko had popped into his studio, packed up his easel and palette and set himself up on the terraces instead. And if you haven’t heard of Mark Rothko? Siedentopf would no doubt be delighted if you decided to look him up.
Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
Paintings League takes elements of shirts belonging to some of the most iconic clubs in Europe and, with attentive use of acrylic, creates paintings out of them. Inter, Chelsea, Bayern München, Galatasaray, Manchester United, Ajax, Marseille: they and many more feature in the book, published by Hatje Cantz. In each case you get a shot of a fan, bedecked in the source material, stood next to the resulting painting; you also get a full-page shot of the abstract artwork in all its glory.
Taken as a whole, the series of pieces puts you in mind of what might have happened if renowned American painter Mark Rothko had popped into his studio, packed up his easel and palette and set himself up on the terraces instead. And if you haven’t heard of Mark Rothko? Siedentopf would no doubt be delighted if you decided to look him up.
Max Siedentopf is nothing if not eclectic. The Namibian-German artist, director, photographer and publisher has a portfolio that includes a doughnut secured with a bike lock, a pigeon with a sign around its neck saying ‘I’m stupid’ and a toilet full of spaghetti. He’s also behind a sound installation in the Namib desert whereby six speakers attached to an MP3 player – all solar-powered – are busy pumping out the Toto song Africa, on loop, until the end of time.
Now, it’s conceivable that these works will not appeal to everyone. Some people, perhaps not enthusiastic about contemporary art in the first place, might struggle to engage with them. And Siedentopf has concluded that many of those who aren’t going to museums or galleries are busy watching football instead. So he’s come up with a cunning concept to lure them in: kits on canvas.
