Caption read
Arman first presented debris as art in his poubelle (dustbin) works in 1959. The objects in this piece are from his first wife's bathroom and are mounted on an ornamental base from his father's antique shop. Objects of intimate personal use have been selected precisely because of their base quality, and are literally 'elevated' on a plinth to become art. Arman raises questions about value, bringing private life into the public domain. Here, he also examines the image of woman constructed by society.
The main concept behind Arman's piece isn't what inspired me; what imspired me was the way in which he had dispayed these items. The concept I see is bits of rubbish (waste) that would have been thrown in the bin but these are also a memory of some sort whether they are inportant or not. They are memories of his Wife; her life and personality. In a way this structure he has displayed this bits in, is like a transparent rubbish bin. And he has put in on an antique grand clock pedestal, displaying this rubbish in a sort of beautiful way. Mayby a metaphor for him putting his wife on a pedestal, all these things about her he cherished. Although he states that it is about bringing private life into the public domain, he also states it is to raise the questions about value. Do we value the little things, that other than the small part they play in our past, are completely useless to us no longer.
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