Square Wooden Bar 

André Cadere made this sculpture – the “Square Wooden Bar” – from painted wood sometime in the 1970s. He carried his bars around Europe, in and out of galleries, often uninvited, to draw attention to the restrictive codes that govern the art world. Cadere was interested in how meaning is created by context. He would create sculptures based on a set pattern of colors but then deliberately introduce an error into the sequence. By carrying them into different spaces, he tested the limits of what was considered acceptable and appropriate in various artistic settings. The bars became a way to question who decides what counts as art. Cadere was part of a generation of artists who reflected on the socio-political context in which art is made. These artists rejected traditional notions of artistic genius, and questioned the traditional role of the art gallery. To understand Cadere better, we need to explore the archives of the galleries where he showed his work, and gather the responses of critics to his interventions. Ultimately, he was interested in creating an alternative model for artistic practice.