Bochner, Mel | Oh Well, 2019 — available on Composition Gallery

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Etching, silkscreen

Mel Bochner's Oh Well (2019) is a mixed-media print that combines etching and silkscreen techniques to present a text-heavy, conceptual work. The artwork features a grid of phrases like OH WELL THAT’S THE WAY IT GOES and JUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT, rendered in large, bold, and textured letters with varying colors, creating a visually rhythmic composition. Bochner’s characteristic use of text challenges viewers to confront common expressions of resignation and acceptance. The layered textures and muted palette give the piece a contemplative feel, blending cynicism and realism, making a statement about the human condition and our coping mechanisms in the face of adversity.

Mel Bochner (USA, 1940-2025) was a conceptual artist and pioneer in text-based art. Known for his bold use of language, color, and mathematical precision, his works explore the intersection of linguistics, perception, and visual art. Bochner’s influential practice challenges viewers to reconsider the relationship between words and images.

Mel Bochner

Oh Well, 2019

Name: Oh Well, 2019
SKU: 8964
Price: 12000.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Mixed Media

Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.

Edition

Edition of 20

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Etching, silkscreen

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Mel Bochner

Private Listing

Limited Edition Print

request info

Mel Bochner

Private Listing

Limited Edition Print

request info

Mel Bochner

Private Listing

Limited Edition Print

request info

Mel Bochner

Private Listing

Limited Edition Print

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Mel Bochner

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The viewer should enter the idea through a visual or phenomenological experience rather than simply reading it.

- Mel Bochner

Regarded as one of the most influential and successful pioneers of Conceptual art,, Mel Bochner analyzed the relationship between language, physical space, and color through his text-based paintings. His work often featured expletives and derogatory words rendered in soft, pastel tones such as pink, while complimentary words appeared in sludgy brown or soiled black, subverting expected emotional responses.

One of Bochner’s most celebrated works was a series of thesaurus-based paintings, in which he filled walls with synonyms for a single word, encouraging viewers to reflect on the language they use and the meanings words carry. Throughout his career, he was vocal about his need to experiment with various materials and approaches as a means of fulfilling his artistic expression and creativity. He elaborated on this philosophy in his essay The Medium and the Tedium. (Artist website)

Artwork by Sol LeWitt

What is Generative Art?

Generative art refers to art that is wholly or partly created through an autonomous system. This system can be independent or non-human, capable of determining features that would otherwise be decided by the artist. The generative system can act as the creator or as a collaborator with the artist. Generative art often refers to works generated algorithmically by computers, where the system plays a significant role in the creation process.

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Mel Bochner

Oh Well, 2019

89 x 66 cm

Language & Currency

Mel Bochner