John Miller Cleveland, OH, USA, 1954
A Multiform Environment, 2007
Gold leaf on assorted plastic objects, plaster, papier mache and styrofoam on hollow-core panel
127 x 83,8 x 33 cm
Further images
Miller is best known for a series of relief assemblages formed from found objects and synthetic low-end merchandise coated with a layer of paint that he began to make in...
Miller is best known for a series of relief assemblages formed from found objects and synthetic low-end merchandise coated with a layer of paint that he began to make in the mid-1980s. In 2008, he began gilding the reliefs using imitation gold. The metallic shimmer of gold-plated objects evokes an unconscious attraction, drawing viewer's eyes to the shiny surfaces. Only on a closer look, these gold-painted details turn out to be the low-cost household items. Taken together, these objects are devoid of practical application and portray a mock reflection of average life. 'All that glitters is not gold' – the contrast between the illusion of luxury and the disappointment of the sudden loss of value of the object reflects Miller's position on the validity of art in consumer culture.
72
/
166