Patrician Barnacle (Scale) 1981

Robert Rauschenberg made this “Patrician Barnacle (Scale)” using found objects and printed imagery. It’s like he's built a little world, a wonky architecture of images. I wonder what Rauschenberg was thinking when he made this...The way he combines images, it's like flipping through channels, a stream of consciousness. It's as if you're wandering through a dream. The ladder, leaning against the collage, suggests climbing, maybe searching for something, or wanting to escape somewhere. The way Rauschenberg worked has always been inspiring to me. He was constantly pushing the boundaries, incorporating everyday objects, and breaking down the distinctions between painting and sculpture. Like the Dadaists and Surrealists before him, Rauschenberg found a way of bringing art closer to life. His experimental approach has had a profound impact on art. He has taught us how to look at the world differently.