Dieter Roth: Souvenirs

Dieter Roth (1930–1998) is considered one of the most important universal artists of the last century, whose uncompromising appropriation of reality seems more relevant than ever.

In the 1960s, he heralded a new understanding of materials by using materials that had previously been foreign to art, such as food and unorthodox printing techniques, and soon afterwards addressed the idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk in a unique way in sprawling assemblages and increasingly expansive installations. He was at the centre of a close-knit network of companions who not only took a keen interest in his work, but also became part of his creative process through collaborations. The publication presents evidence of such collaborations as well as gifts, often inscribed with dedications or the addition “Souvenir”, to friends and fellow artists such as Richard Hamilton and Martin Suter.