joseph scissorhands: Robert Rauschenberg: Spreads 1975-83

Sunday 13 January 2019

Robert Rauschenberg: Spreads 1975-83

Untitled (Spread) - 1982

This is the first exhibition in the UK dedicated to Robert Rauschenberg's (1925-2008) Spreads series of artworks. Many of the works are executed on a large scale (the largest being over six metres wide), and follow on from and relate to his revolutionary Combines series (1954-64) in that they are hybrids of both his painting and sculptural practices. The canvas covered wood surfaces of the Spreads are heavily saturated with classic Rauschenberg screenprinted motifs, including the American flag, images from popular culture and nature, along with physical objects such as umbrellas, tyres, bed linen, clothing, mirrors, buckets and lights affixed. In lesser hands these collaged works could have ended up as a chaotic mess, but in his arrangements for the Spreads Rauschenberg maintains a sense of order, so that each piece achieves a considered cohesiveness. Rauschenberg's inventiveness in the construction of certain pieces from this series adds to their interest such as in Consul (Spread), where he curves the picture surface making it appear to have slipped off the wall and rest on the floor, and Sky Marshall (Spread), where he purposefully interrupts the picture plane by folding the construction in half. There is much movement in these collages and their dense imagery. The eye flickers across the surfaces as if one is watching television, or a series of adverts. Asked about his use of the term "Spread", Rauschenberg responded that it meant "as far as I can make it stretch, and land (like a farmer's 'spread'), and also the stuff you put on toast." This is such a punchy, strong show of important works. Having missed his 2016 Tate Modern retrospective it was a real pleasure to catch this show and be reminded of just why Rauschenberg's place is so important in the history of art.