Christian Boltanski

"A good work of art can never be read in one way. My work is full of contradictions. An artwork is open—it is the spectators looking at the work who make the piece, using their own background. A lamp in my work might make you think of a police interrogation, but it’s also religious, like a candle. At the same time it alludes to a precious painting, with a single light shining on it. There are many way of looking at the work. It has to be ‘unfocused’ somehow so that everyone can recognize something of their own self when viewing it."

Christian Boltanski has never been associated with a specific art movement, but has received critical acclaim and attention ever since he began working in France in the 1960s. His works often explore the depth of human suffering that was experienced during the Holocaust, with recurring themes including death, memory and loss.

With his installation "Totentanz" (Dance of Death) from the series "Theatre d'Ombres" Christian Boltanski follows up on both his intention of securing evidence, as well as on the old tradition of shadow play