To occupy space, to modify perception, and to push boundaries : these are the main ideas driving Veit Stratmann's works – an artist heavily influenced by the avant-garde movement.
This artistic movement dating back to the 1960s is characterised by the reassessment of the institutions and the rules of the art market, while defying its limits and making fun of its contradictions.
Over the past few years, Stratmann has developed a great sense of irony. He has made a habit of turning exhibition halls upside down to confuse visitors. For example, in 1998, he removed the window of the Roger Tator Gallery in order to eliminate the boundaries between the world of art and the outside.
His works are intended to look rather ordinary, useful, and are often made of industrial materials. His aim is to narrow the gap between the real world and art, since art no longer has to be beautiful or spectacular. In public spaces, his works only add a slight change to the landscape. Thus, passers-by are free to perceive them as their own and are no longer mere bystanders.
