Reisdocument 1945

This travel document, undated and of unknown authorship, has been made with ink on paper. It feels immediate, like a note passed in class, and this intimacy is powerful. There is a real sense of process here; the build-up of layered marks, the varied pressure of the pen, the scratching out, and the general wear and tear of the surface. The purple ink, used for the official stamps, is in stark contrast to the cursive handwriting, and the whole object is imbued with the tension of bureaucracy. Look at how the handwritten words are fighting for space on the page. Like a Cy Twombly painting, this travel document demonstrates how language can be both a visual and symbolic form. The work feels very connected to the Fluxus movement. Much like the happenings, there is a tension between the importance and banality of everyday life and a desire to elevate the ephemera of the everyday into art. It’s a fascinating intersection.