Untitled (three white squares and two boxes on an unidentified wall), 1972
Corentin Zezaguel
U.S.A, 1928-1994
granite, wood, metal, wall
We see three white rectangles and two wooden boxes on an unidentified wall. This work garnered significant attention for its provocative name. The artist, Corentin Zezaguel, originally titled it ‘The Pain of My Selfless Attempt to Save the World in D-Minor.’ The gallery keeper disapproved, claiming it lacked commercial value. In response, Zezaguel named the exhibition ‘Exhibition in Gallery,’ and the work became ‘Untitled’ with a short description explaining what the viewer sees. This work, now titled ‘Untitled (Three White Rectangles and Two Wooden Boxes on an Unidentified Wall),’ became a centerpiece, triggering a change in how art is perceived.