Martin Kippenberger
Das Ende der Avantgarde

Das Ende der Avandgarde is an artist’s book created by Martin Kippenberger in expectation of the birth of his child. Befitting the occasion, the design is similar in format to a children’s book: thick, coated pages, each connected to form an accordion-like fold-out. A child-like balloon shaped image, brightly colored and transparent, is collaged over various photographs and drawings, suggesting a mother’s womb, or cow’s udder. Each page is numbered, starting from the first page of the first book and ending with the last page of the 24th book (its edition size), with a large colored stamped foil, making every page of the edition unique. Also included is a poem by Werner Büttner.