Low Table 1984

Galvanised, powdercoated
steel
Dimensions: 150 x 100 x 45 cm

Series 1
Edition of 7
yellow on top

Series 2
Edition of 7
Galvanised steel on top

Series 3
Edition of 7
white on top


Jonathan MONK

When invited by D&A Lab to work on the theme “function”, he responded almost immediately with the
proposal to reinterpret the famous „Bookshelf 1984‟ by Donald Judd. The shelf was laid flat on the ground and individual elements were completely rearranged into a low table. With a single explanation from the artist: "I think that this will work better!”
He furthermore used white as a base and added some of the Ral colors, in which the original bookshelf is available.
To make a multicolored piece also adding galvanized steel, Judd‟s most painterly material iron in the process.
Monk‟s working method is interesting in itself as he is not trying to use as base an exact copy of Judd‟s work
but rather an interpretation of low resolution images from the Internet.
Jonathan‟s work is here as a result an ode to Judd‟s work as well as a derivative with references to Judd‟s other work. It is a desacralisation of one emblematic functional piece resulting in a completely different functional object.

ABOUT

Born 1969 in the UK
Lives and works in Berlin

Jonathan Monk’s work includes a wide range of media including installations, photography, film, sculpture and performance. His work often recalls procedural approaches typical of 1960’s conceptualism but without sharing their utopian ideals and notions of artistic genius. Monk instead plays around in his work with more everyday concerns, while touching upon systems and processes of conceptual art and minimal art.

In doing so he also with humor and wit challenges and demystifies the notions of purity and sanctity in modern art and looks ahead by time and again reinventing and questioning the model and role of the contemporary artist.