Monk, Jonathan | Backside Brussels I, 2016 — available on Composition Gallery

View in a Room

Acrylic sculpture; signature on certificate; perfect condition -- This is a unique wall sculpture by Jonathan Monk. On the front, you see just a white box with a black dot in the middle. But inside, on the back part, there's a small 'manneken pis' sculpture. The black dot is meant to represent the little boy's backside in the sculpture. Each one is signed by Jonathan Monk. There are 14 of these sculptures, each with a different 'manneken pis' inside

Backside Brussels I by Jonathan Monk is a unique acrylic wall sculpture created in 2016, capturing the artist’s playful approach to perception and expectation. The artwork consists of a minimalistic white box with a small black dot at the center, which hints at the artwork's interactive aspect. Upon inspection, viewers discover that the dot represents the back of a tiny Manneken Pis figure, symbolizing Brussels’ famous statue. Monk’s witty concept reinterprets the iconic figure by showing only its “backside,” encouraging the viewer to engage with the piece and consider what’s hidden beyond its simplistic exterior. This limited-edition piece (one of 14 unique sculptures) is signed by the artist on a certificate and brings humor and intrigue, blurring the line between sculpture and concept.

Jonathan Monk (UK, 1969) is a conceptual artist whose work reinterprets and challenges art history with wit and irony. Using diverse media, including photography, sculpture, and performance, he engages in playful dialogues with iconic artists and movements. Monk’s works blur originality and appropriation, inviting viewers to question the boundaries of contemporary art.

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels I, 2016

Name: Backside Brussels I, 2016
SKU: 8958
Price: 800.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Sculpture / Object

Sculpture / ObjectA sculpture is a three-dimension object made using any one of the basic sculpting processes. These include carving, casting, constructing or modeling. Carving materials may be bone, ivory, stone or wood. Modeling and casting use clay or wax, while constructions glue materials together.

Medium

Acrylic sculpture

Acrylic sculptureAcrylic sculpture refers to both a process and the resulting object. The artist begins by creating a sculpture from clay, plaster, or epoxy, which is then used to make a flexible mold. Melted acrylic is poured into the mold, and once it cures, the acrylic piece is hand-finished through sanding and polishing. Acrylic sculptures are valued for their clarity, durability, and ability to achieve intricate details.

Edition

Unique from an edition of 14

Authenticity Guaranteed
Insured Shipping
Online Since 2005

●Inventory 8958

●Signed on the certificate

●Comes with gallery invoice and certificate

●Sell Us a Similar Artwork. Learn more.

Jonathan Monk

Wagenfeld Sunsets I-VI, 376 B3, 2019

Photography

Inkjet print

EUR 1,500

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels I, 2016

Sculpture / Object

Acrylic sculpture

EUR 800

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels II, 2016

Sculpture / Object

Acrylic sculpture

EUR 800

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels III, 2016

Sculpture / Object

Acrylic sculpture

EUR 800

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels IV, 2016

Sculpture / Object

Acrylic sculpture

EUR 800

Jonathan Monk

The idea of an empty sliding, 2015

Limited Edition Print

Monotype

EUR 3,000

Jonathan Monk

My Left Hand Holding a Square 4, 2008

Limited Edition Print

Drypoint

EUR 3,000

Jonathan Monk

COUNTING IN COLOUR, 2010

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

EUR 3,200

Jonathan Monk

My Left Hand Holding a Piece 3 , 2008

Limited Edition Print

Drypoint

Currently Not Available

Los Angeles, 2000

Painting

Sold

New York, 2000

Painting

Sold

Did you shit(...), 2008

Sculpture / Object

Sold

Is it or is it not or can it or can it not be?
- Jonathan Monk

Jonathan Monk is a British artist living and working in Berlin, Germany. He creates photographs, film, sculpture and installation pieces which are thought to be humorous reinterpretations of works by Sol LeWitt, Ed Ruscha, and John Baldessari to name some. Monk often uses quotations to give new ideas to works viewed as seminal in their time, adding quirkiness to challenge the value of the artwork. Jonathan Monk's upbringing in a working class environment is viewed by some as his source for taking the artistic and adding the mundane in ways that encourage viewers to think differently about specific art pieces than they may have before. Jonathan Monk has works exhibited throughout the world. His Tears, 2005 photograph shows a passport photo with the eyes completely covered by a pair of drop earrings placed to represent tears. His Painting of a photo of a photo of a painting, 2008, has images of a purple vase filled with yellow sunflowers, both in photograph image and then drawn in markers. The greeting “Get Well Soon” is one of three witty, hand-lettered greetings included. These are only two of the pieces which have established Jonathan Monk's reputation as a humorist in the art world.

Artwork by James Turrell

What is ‘light and space’?

The Light and Space Movement refers to loosely affiliated art movements connected to minimalism, geometric abstraction, and op art that originated in Southern California in the 1960s. Greatly influenced by artist John McLaughlin, these artists focused on sensory phenomena such as light, perception, and space as central elements of their work. They also incorporated cutting-edge technologies from the aerospace and engineering industries to develop light-filled and sensuous objects, creating immersive experiences that emphasize the viewer's perception.

Explore »

Jonathan Monk

Backside Brussels I, 2016

40 x 40 x 4 cm

Language & Currency

Jonathan Monk