Why Artists Are Obsessed with Hamburgers: From Oldenburg to Warhol
The article explores the recurring motif of hamburgers in contemporary art, tracing its evolution from Claes Oldenburg's oversized soft sculptures to Andy Warhol's pop iconography. Oldenburg's 1962 'Floor Burger' (213.4 cm diameter, 132 cm high) was acquired by the Art Gallery of Ontario, sparking student protests with a giant inflatable ketchup bottle. Warhol's 1985 'Double Hamburger' (295 x 615 cm) reduced the form to essential ellipses. In 1981, Warhol starred in a Jørgen Leth-directed video eating a Burger King hamburger, famously stating 'My name is Andy Warhol and I've just finished eating a hamburger.' Tom Friedman's 2013 'Big Big Mac' continues the tradition. Marcel Duchamp's recipe for steak tartare is cited. The article also discusses future possibilities: synthetic meat from cow stem cells (first patty cost €250,000 for 150 grams) and Koert van Mensvoort's proposal to use cultured meat for art via knitting or crochet.
Key facts
- Claes Oldenburg's 'Floor Burger' (1962) measures 213.4 cm diameter and 132 cm high.
- Oldenburg's 'Floor Burger' was acquired by the Art Gallery of Ontario.
- Students protested the acquisition with a giant inflatable ketchup bottle.
- Oldenburg also created a small-scale cheeseburger (17.8 x 37.5 x 21.8 cm) in 1962.
- Andy Warhol's 'Double Hamburger' (1985) is 295 x 615 cm.
- Warhol starred in a 1981 video by Jørgen Leth eating a Burger King hamburger.
- Warhol preferred Burger King but admired McDonald's packaging.
- Tom Friedman's 'Big Big Mac' (2013) is a giant rubber hamburger.
- Marcel Duchamp provided a recipe for steak tartare.
- Synthetic meat from cow stem cells cost €250,000 for 150 grams.
- Koert van Mensvoort proposes using cultured meat for art via knitting or crochet.
Entities
Artists
- Claes Oldenburg
- Andy Warhol
- Tom Friedman
- Marcel Duchamp
- Koert van Mensvoort
- Jørgen Leth
- Carlo Spinelli
- Aldo Spinelli
Institutions
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- Sidney Janis Gallery
- Burger King
- McDonald's
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- Toronto
- Canada
- United States