WARENÄSTHETIK, 2017

Please note: The piece is, and will be supplied, unframed 

WARENÄSTHETIK is based on one of the first paintings of Laibach Kunst, entitled "Hosenträger - Braces" , from 1980 (with further interventions in 1999), made in mixed media. The original painting is in private collection. 

Warenästhetik (aesthetics of goods) is a representation of the concept of political economy, especially in respect of its manifestation in the Critical Theory of Society founded by Karl Marx. The concept is based on the distinction between value of use and the exchange value of a commodity, made by Adam Smith and Karl Marx.

The German Marxist Wolfgang Fritz Haug used this analytical difference in his critique of the commodity aesthetics to get beyond the pure determination of the function of goods and to determine the alleged apparent character of any product aesthetics. In his publication “Kritik der Warenästhetik” (Critique of Commodity Aesthetics) he describes the production methods of Fordism from a critical-analytical perspective. Haug focuses on the manipulation of consumers through the aestheticization of capitalist products, using Marxist terminology to analyse the economical basis in order to describe the aesthetic modification of the offered commodities and argues, the reason for these modifications lies in the exchange of commodities.

Terms and details:

Upon prior request, it is possible to view artwork live at a Laibach WTC location in Ljubljana, Slovenia. If you are interested in doing so, please write to wtc.support@laibach.org. 

The listed price includes 9,5% value-added tax (VAT). If you are located outside the EU, or are a legal entity that is part of EU reverse charge system, you may take this into account when submitting your offer.

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