Artwork
Study for Device to Root out Evil
Study for Device to Root out Evil is a drawing by Dennis Oppenheim. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.
About this work
Overview
Dennis Oppenheim’s 1997 work titled Study for Device to Root out Evil is a drawing that resides in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The piece presents a side‑view sketch of an architectural form, rendered with a palette of red, blue and orange that dominates the composition. The drawing’s layout and color choices convey a sense of motion and spatial complexity.
Subject & Meaning
The angular lines and interlocking shapes generate depth, while the surrounding splatters of brown and blue introduce a contrasting, almost chaotic environment.
The central motif is a building rendered in a tilted orientation, suggesting instability or transformation. The angular lines and interlocking shapes generate depth, while the surrounding splatters of brown and blue introduce a contrasting, almost chaotic environment. This juxtaposition may allude to the tension between constructed order and disruptive forces, resonating with the title’s reference to a device intended to eliminate evil.
Technique & Style
Oppenheim employs a mixed‑media approach, combining precise line work with loose, gestural paint applications. The vivid primary colors of the structure are balanced by a lighter background mottled with earthy and cool tones, creating visual rhythm. The interplay of controlled drafting and spontaneous splatter marks reflects the artist’s interest in the dialogue between design and chance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1997, the drawing entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings as part of its contemporary art acquisitions. Its inclusion in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s commitment to documenting experimental practices that intersect visual art with conceptual investigations of societal themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dennis Oppenheim was an American conceptual artist, performance artist, earth artist, sculptor and photographer.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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