Artwork
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)/Michel Foucault (1926-1984)
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)/Michel Foucault (1926-1984) is a drawing by Natassa Poulantza. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. This work is a digital print generated by the interactive application Game of Fortune, which mimics the mechanics of slot‑machine gambling.
About this work
Overview
This work is a digital print generated by the interactive application Game of Fortune, which mimics the mechanics of slot‑machine gambling. Users trigger a random pairing of images—one drawn from a selection of celebrated paintings and the other from portraits of notable philosophers—resulting in a unique composite that is then printed on archival A4 paper and signed by the creator.
Subject & Meaning
The printed image merges the abstract field of a Mark Rothko canvas with a likeness of French philosopher Michel Foucault. By superimposing the two faces, the piece invites contemplation of the intersection between visual art and critical theory, encouraging viewers to consider how meaning emerges from unexpected juxtapositions.
Technique & Style
The composition is produced through a digital algorithm that rapidly cycles through pre‑loaded images, halting at a random combination. The resulting print captures a blurred, overlapping effect where Rothko’s color fields and Foucault’s portrait dissolve into one another, emphasizing the fleeting, chance‑driven nature of the creation process.
History & Provenance
The artwork originates from the Game of Fortune project, a contemporary digital art initiative that transforms gambling‑style interaction into a method of artistic production. Each print is a one‑off edition, signed by the artist and printed on acid‑free archival paper, ensuring its status as a unique, collectible object.
Context
Situated within a broader trend of digital and participatory art, the piece reflects ongoing explorations of randomness, authorship, and the democratization of image selection. It aligns with other works that repurpose cultural icons through algorithmic means, questioning traditional modes of art appreciation.
Legacy
By converting the act of viewing into a game‑like experience, the work contributes to dialogues about the role of technology in redefining artistic authorship and the relationship between high culture and popular entertainment.
Artist & collection
Artist
These drawings mash up famous artists and writers—Franz Marc with Nikos Poulantzas, Mark Rothko with Michel Foucault—layering ink on paper to pair their styles.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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Franz Marc (1880-1916)/Nikos Poulantzas (1936-1979)
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Gerhard Richter (1932)/Oskar Wilde (1854-1900)
James Ensor (1860-1949)/Jack Kérouac (1922-1969)
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)/André Beton
Anslem Kiefer (1945)/Nina Simone (1933-2003)
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)/Joseph Stalin (1878-1953)
