Gilbert and George, Dead Boards No. 11, 1976 IDL Ⓒ PG
Dead Boards no. 11 consists of nine black and white photographs which represent empty interiors, with Gilbert & George standing still in the four corners of the composition. This is their house and they present themselves as ‘living sculptures’ – almost as if they were pieces of furniture. In this work, the artists try to answer the question: what’s the relationship between art and life? Can the two things coincide? The answer is yes. For Gilbert & George, the artist himself can become a work of art. The work is invaded by a sense of sadness. Why is that? At the beginning of their career, the two artists were outsiders, isolated and excluded. Maybe that’s why they are always present in their work. It’s a way of fighting solitude and saying to the viewer: ‘here we are’, or : ‘we’re here too’!
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