One of the most important personalities in minimalism who contributed to the way younger generations understand it is John Armleder. In his paintings, objects, installations, sculptures, etc. the artist appropriates key works of famous artists like Dan Flavin or Marcel Duchamps. Armleder looks into the styles, dogmas and -isms of 20th Century art by paraphrasing, destroying and redefining them all at the same time.
The installation Untitled (21 neon tubes) is a quotation of the famous minimal light art pioneer Dan Flavin and functions as a double farewell to the concept of the original in art: Throughout the course of time, the ready-made, which wanted to destroy the aura of the artistic original and the associated ideals and utopias, has risen to the status of an icon itself. Armleder's sculpture tears down the ready-made from its pedestal for a second time to move the essential and the truly 'original' artistic approach into the focus.
Rockenschaub, Armleder, Zobernig and Mosset were part of the important Neo Geo movement of the early 80's, all of them have been exhibiting together frequently and have been knowing each other for a long period of time.
1986 Swiss Pavillion, Biennale di Venezia
1987 documenta 8
