UNTITLED (UNITED ENEMIES) |THOMAS SCHÜTTE

Thomas Schütte (born in Oldenburg in 1954, currently living in Düsseldorf) is a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene. An extraordinarily versatile artist, his work spans a wide range of expressive languages: from painted canvas to drawing, from sculpture to architectural models.
During a period of residence in Rome, Schütte had the opportunity to closely study ancient busts and classical portraiture. It was precisely from this encounter with tradition that one of his most emblematic series, United Enemies, emerged, in which the artist explores—through prototypical figures—dynamics of control, conflict, and power.
The work Untitled (United Enemies) features two miniature characters, modeled with Fimo clay around a structure of wooden sticks. They are dressed in scraps of fabric, placed on a pedestal made from a drainage pipe, and enclosed under a glass dome, as if they were precious museum objects. This setup gives them an almost sacred, yet at the same time grotesque aura.
The faces of the two figures, with their exaggerated expressions—one sporting a sardonic smile, the other with wide-open eyes—seem to mock the viewer. In this play of gazes and implicit judgments, the spectator finds themselves in a position of subordination, almost forced to submit to the ambiguous tension emanating from the characters. The result is a reversal of roles: the sculptures, usually inert objects, take on an active role, exerting psychological power over those who observe them. In this way, Schütte evokes the functions of public commemorative sculpture, which once aimed to inspire reverence and awe.

Untitled (United Enemies) is currently on display in the exhibition Genealogies, a retrospective dedicated to Thomas Schütte at Punta della Dogana, the Venetian venue of the Pinault Collection. The exhibition, which brings together works from the collection alongside loans from the artist, offers an immersive journey through Schütte’s broad and complex repertoire, questioning the human condition through irony, unease, and political reflection.

Thomas Schütte
Thomas Schütte. Genealogies
Until November 23, 2025
Pinault Collection, Punta della Dogana, Venezia.

Thomas Schütte, Untitled (United Enemies), 1995 (detail), Pinault Collection.
Installation view, Thomas Schütte. Genealogies, 2025, Punta della Dogana, Venezia.
Ph. Marco Cappelletti © Palazzo Grassi – Pinault Collection
© Thomas Schütte, by SIAE 2025

Thomas Schütte, Untitled Enemy (Udo), 1992 (detail), Pinault Collection, Untitled (United Enemies), 1995 (detail), Pinault Collection. Installation view, “Thomas Schütte. Genealogies”, 2025, Punta della Dogana, Venezia. Ph. Marco Cappelletti © Palazzo Grassi – Pinault Collection © Thomas Schütte, by SIAE 2025

23/04/25