Man Carrying His Own Sun on a String 1973

Robert Filliou made this diptych, 'Man Carrying His Own Sun on a String', using mixed media in the late 20th century. The pairing of a child-like drawing with a stark photograph invites us to consider the artist's role and responsibility in society. Filliou was associated with the Fluxus movement, an international, interdisciplinary group of artists who rejected the established art world, and challenged traditional notions of what art could be. The drawing, seemingly simple, even naive, might be read as a metaphor for the artist's burden of bringing light and enlightenment to a world in darkness. The use of humble materials, like cardboard, aligns with Fluxus's anti-establishment stance, rejecting the preciousness often associated with art objects. The photograph, depicting Filliou himself amidst stacks of what appear to be wooden blocks, perhaps references the artist's own creative process, building, and constructing meaning. To fully understand this work, a historian might explore the archives of the Fluxus movement, and delve into the writings of its members, uncovering the social and institutional critiques embedded in their art.