Clan Destiny 1995

This is a piece by Robert Rauschenberg, made by screen printing different images onto fabric, kind of like a quilt, but way more chaotic. You can see how the images overlap and bleed into each other, creating new and unexpected combinations. It's like he's saying that artmaking is a process of discovery, of finding new meanings and connections through chance and experimentation. The way Rauschenberg layers these images, the texture, the color, is very physical. The images are not precious, the surface is not pristine, instead, the materiality shapes the emotional experience. Look at the figure plunging downwards on the right - they are surrounded by scaffolding, as if they are mid-construction, or maybe mid-destruction, it’s hard to tell. This idea of combining disparate elements, of embracing chance and ambiguity, is something that Rauschenberg explored throughout his career. I think he had a big influence on artists like David Salle, who also layer images and ideas in their work. Ultimately, it's about embracing the messiness and complexity of life, and finding beauty in the unexpected.