Richard Hamilton's Toilet Paper Motif: From Andrex Ads to Memento-Mori
In the latest installment of her series on confinement memories, Catherine Millet delves into the artistic representation of toilet paper rolls, focusing on British Pop artist Richard Hamilton. She opens with a 1960s Andrex advertisement created by Bridget Riley, showcasing two women alongside a prominent toilet paper roll. As a pioneer of Op Art, Riley was associated with J. Walter Thompson Advertising. A decade later, Hamilton reinterpreted this imagery in his work 'Soft Pink Landscape' (1971-72), currently housed at the Hungarian National Gallery, where the roll is integrated into the scenery. His portfolio also features 'Soft Blue Landscape' (1979-80) and 1970s 'Flower-pieces.' Additionally, Hamilton's 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' series capture scenes from Cadaqués, Spain. Millet connects these visuals to Dalí's reaction to Surrealism and posits that the hoarding of toilet paper during lockdown signifies a fear of mortality.
Key facts
- Bridget Riley created an Andrex advertisement around 1960 featuring two women and a large toilet paper roll.
- Riley worked for J. Walter Thompson Advertising before becoming a leading Op Art figure.
- Richard Hamilton appropriated Riley's scene in his painting 'Soft Pink Landscape' (1971-72).
- 'Soft Pink Landscape' is held at the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest.
- Hamilton produced 'Soft Blue Landscape' (1979-80) and multiple print versions.
- Hamilton's 'Flower-pieces' (1970s) include an Andrex roll or a turd as memento-mori.
- Hamilton's 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' series feature Cadaqués, Spain, with excrement replacing the church.
- Hamilton first visited Cadaqués in 1963 with Marcel Duchamp and befriended Salvador Dalí.
- Hamilton exhibited works at Galeria Bombelli in Cadaqués.
- Catherine Millet's article is part of a series on confinement memories published in artpress.
Entities
Artists
- Catherine Millet
- Richard Hamilton
- Bridget Riley
- Marcel Duchamp
- Salvador Dalí
- Jonathan Swift
- Antoine Watteau
Institutions
- J. Walter Thompson Advertising
- Hungarian National Gallery
- Galeria Bombelli
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Cadaqués
- Spain
- Miers
- Lot
- England
- United Kingdom
Sources
- artpress —