D.O.M.
D.O.M., 1999
Gavin Turk (b.1967)
Turk continually explores what it means to be an artist, investigating ideas about authenticity, originality and value in a playful way.
In many he turns himself into a prop- the artist as object- transforming and reinventing himself, as seen in both of these examples.
This photograph is a print of a sculptural installation called, Death of Marat, that Turk made in 1998. The installation, which included a bathtub and a waxwork figure, is in turn a âcopyâof the famous painting of the same name, by the neo-classical French artist, Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). Davidâs tragic painting depicted the death of the French revolutionary leader and writer, Jean Paul Marat (1743-93), who was assassinated in his bath. It is regarded as one of the most poignant images resulting from the French Revolution.
Turk subtly alters Davidâs image. A waxwork of Turk replaces the figure of Marat, the omission of blood or a knife suggesting sleep rather than death. The inscribed block in the original painting has also been replaced with a neo-classical pedestal engraved by the Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (b.1925).
Iris print on paper
Purchased through the Contemporary Art Society Special Collection Scheme with Lottery funding from the Arts Council England, 2000
