Art Metropole

#16621

¥en Scarf

Artists

General Idea, AA Bronson, Jorge Zontal, and Felix Partz

Date

2025

Publisher

Massimo De Carlo Arte Contemporanea

Format

Multiples

Size

140 × 140 cm

The ¥en Boutique, created in 1991, was a bold play on the contrast between luxury shopping and gallery acquisition, another strong statement by General Idea on consumption. ‘Yen Scarf’ is a perfect representation of the spirit of GI in this era, commenting on the rising economic dominance of Japan, both in the general world economy and the art world at the time.

The kiosk (which sporadically offered multiples for sale) was created by the group for museum display. The boutique format continued to hold interest for the group in the 1990s. The final boutique General Idea created was Boutique Coeurs volants, 1994/2001.

GI’s dedication to creating multiples was tied to their critical interest in consumerism and art collecting/shopping. AA Bronson explained, “General Idea was at once complicit in and critical of the mechanisms and strategies that join art and commerce, a sort of mole in the art world.”

Screenprint on crêpe-de-Chine.
Edition of 48, signed.