Anonymous drawings are featured in each exhibition. How are our judgements about art affected? This is the question that the Anonymer Kopf Sculpture silently poses to us.
The Anonymer Kopf Sculpture stands as a testament to the power of anonymity in art. It challenges our preconceived notions. It encourages us to look beyond the artist’s name.
Around 700 drawings by 700 international artists are featured. These works are presented with no mention of authorship. The drawings are offered for sale at a symbolic price. The artist’s identity is revealed only after the work is sold. Sold drawings are taken off the wall. The empty space is marked with the artist’s name and place of origin.
The given unit sales price should not be seen as a real market price. It is a conceptual placeholder. It stands for any conceivable amount of money in the art market.
Every exhibition is preceded by an International Open Call for Submissions. There are no guidelines specifying content. The only requirement is that the drawings are no bigger than A3. Age, biography, or gender are not requested. They do not play any role in the final selection of works. The selection is made on anonymized image files.
The artists ship their original drawings to Berlin. Everyone is eligible. Participation is free of charge.
Anonymer Kopf Sculpture embodies conceptual art. Each artist becomes part of a collective work of art. Hierarchies are entirely absent.
The Anonymous Drawings Archive came into being through all Anonymous drawings exhibitions since 2006. This archive of more than 1500 drawings from all over the world can be shown as a traveling exhibition. All archived works are artists’ donations supporting the project. The archive changes continuously with every sale. It also changes with every call for participation. The archived works are available for sale.
The Anonymer Kopf Sculpture’s presence here reminds us of the project’s founder, Anke Becker. She started it in Berlin, Germany, in 2006.
Consider the implications of this artistic endeavor. How does our understanding of art shift when we strip away the artist’s identity? Does it change how we value the work? Does it allow us to connect with the art on a deeper level? The Anonymer Kopf Sculpture prompts us to ask these questions.
Next time you view a piece of art, think about Anonymer Kopf Sculpture. Consider what you bring to the experience without knowing the artist. Allow the art to speak for itself.