Dieter Roth: Souvenirs. (Text in English & German)

Art polymath extraordinaire, Dieter Roth (1930-1998) maintained throughout his career an output so prodigious and various that art historians and fans are still struggling to keep up. Bringing innovations to media such as installation, sculpture, artist’s books, jewelry and writing, Roth also traveled and collaborated extensively, becoming one of the postwar art scene’s most visible personalities. Roth kept a close circle of artist friends with whom he collaborated, and to whom he made regular gifts of works that he named “Souvenirs.” These friends included Richard Hamilton, Dorothy Iannone, Hansjörg Mayer, Martin Suter and Jan Voss, and the gifts included works of mail art, which Roth would gleefully subject to the vicissitudes of the postal system (“Has it arrived yet?” Voss recalls Roth asking him, of one such gift; “Has it already been nicely destroyed?” ). Dieter Roth: Souvenirs is the first presentation of these works.