Chaos magick
Occult World January 1, 2014 DOI: 10.4324/9781315745916-51 (opens in new tab) via Elsevier
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn 1969 German artist Sigmar Polke created a large canvas featuring one black corner and a typed message that reads 'Höhere Wesen befahlen: rechte obere Ecke schwarz malen!' ('Higher beings command: paint the upper right corner black!'). The work presents an ironic commentary on artistic authority and the sources of creative direction, suggesting that artistic decisions may be dictated by external, even absurd, commands.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Polke's 1969 canvas uses a typed message and a black corner to satirize the notion of higher authority in artistic creation. |
Abstract
In 1969 German artist Sigmar Polke (1941-2010) created a large canvas with one black corner and a typed message reading ‘Höhere Wesen befahlen: rechte obere Ecke schwarz malen!' (‘Higher beings command: paint the upper right corner black!').