False Food Selection

Artists

Description

One of a small number of prototypes for a planned but never editioned multiple. Oldenburg recalls that this planned Fluxus edition was a variation of another planned, unrealized edition with Multiples, Inc. for a lunch box with several handmade objects to be cast and encased in plastic. He notes that "in order to conform to the Fluxus movement's emphasis on found objects, I proposed a selection of purchased food imitations, like many of the items found in the 'museum'. Maciunas would obtain as many items as he could from various suppliers. I would choose from among them until I has a group I liked." (Claes Oldenburg: Multiples in Retrospect, p. 24). The box, divided into five compartments, contains 24 items, including (1) ham & eggs (glued to the inside of the lid); in compartment 1: 1 pickle, 1 hot dog, and 1 oatmeal cookie; compartment 2: 1 tomato and 1 pear; compartment 3: 5 "Bakeland" cookies, 5 round butter cookies, 1 "Milk Arrowroot" biscuit, and 1 poppyseed roll; compartment 4: 4 petit-fours, 1 chocolate doughnut; and compartment 5: 1 banana.

Dimensions

box closed: 8.9 x 42.2 x 19.5 cm (3 1/2 x 16 5/8 x 7 11/16 in.) box open: 17.8 x 42.2 x 36.8 cm (7 x 16 5/8 x 14 1/2 in.)

Provenance

Barbara Moore, Bound/Unbound, New York, New York, partial gift partial purchase; to Harvard University Art Museums, June 28, 2005.