While the artist uses collages as the starting point for his paintings, the former are not only preparatory studies but a strategy that enables juxtaposing realities and unexpected associations, which are major characteristics of his extensive oeuvre. In this combination of the everyday and the commonplace, a sceptical perspective becomes manifest as a critical method. With cutting wit, Büttner breaks the spell of daily social events and renders their values relative and benign.
This lavishly-produced book presents newly commissioned texts as well as key essays relating to Büttner’s practice, and—taken with its sister volume concerning his painting,
Coincidence in Splendour
, are the first substantial books on Büttner in English.