Red Icarus, 1980
MediumFire gouache on cardboard
Sheet dimensions73 x 102 cm
Status
on display, room Das fünfte Element. Werke aus der Sammlung Kemp About the workBefore Icarus took off with his artificial wings, his father warned him: “Do not fly too high, the sun will melt the wax that holds them together, and not too low, for the sea will soak the feathers.” But, according to the ancient myth, Icarus was carried away by the thrill of freedom and flew towards the sun. He crashed when his wings disintegrated. Otto Piene's fascination with the sky and the element of fire is reflected in this story. The co-founder of the ZERO group repeatedly revisited the figure of Icarus. He linked it to themes such as technological progress and its potential dangers.
AccessionKemp Collection Foundation
ProvenanceMärz 1980 Willi Kemp (Köln 1927 - 2020 Düsseldorf) erworben vom Künstler; 2011 Stiftung Sammlung Kemp im Kunstpalast erworben durch Schenkung Willi Kemp
Inventory numberKemp 1907