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"Janne" Cow-bench

A bench in the general shape of a sitting cow without a head or legs and a smooth, brown surface with rib and spine details.
© 2018 Julia Lohmann / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Germany

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  • A bench in the general shape of a sitting cow without a head or legs and a smooth, brown surface with rib and spine details.

Date:

2012

Artist:

Julia Lohmann
German, born 1977
Produced by Galerie kreo (French, founded 1999)

About this artwork

Referred to as a memento mori (reminder of death) for cows, the Cow Bench is a reminder of the animal origin of leather furniture. Frames made of wood and foam mimic the ribs and spine of a cow’s torso. They are covered with a hide from a single cow, positioned exactly as it was on the animal. The benches do not feature heads or legs because these are the first parts removed in the slaughterhouse. As opposed to the unmarred leather used for most furniture, Lohmann’s benches bear the unique marks—such as scars and wrinkles—of the cow used to produce them. Creating an even deeper connection with the viewer, each bench has its own name—this one is called Janne.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Architecture and Design

Artist

Julia Lohmann

Title

"Janne" Cow-bench

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Designed 2012

Medium

Leather, foam and wood

Dimensions

69 × 151 × 86 cm (27 × 60 × 34 in.)

Credit Line

Funds provided by the Architecture & Design Society

Reference Number

2017.115

Copyright

© 2018 Julia Lohmann / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Germany

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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