Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Janice Kerbel. It dates from 2007 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Janice Kerbel’s 2007 screenprint, Untitled, is a black-and-white composition that mimics the visual language of public announcements or vintage advertisements.
Janice Kerbel’s 2007 screenprint, Untitled, is a black-and-white composition that mimics the visual language of public announcements or vintage advertisements. Its large, bold typography dominates the surface, presenting a series of cryptic meteorological phrases. The work belongs to The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Kerbel’s interest in language as a performative and destabilizing medium.
Subject & Meaning
The text reads like an absurd weather report, blending scientific terminology with surreal, anthropomorphic imagery, such as a 'synchronised mercurial cat', to disrupt logical interpretation. Phrases like 'THE TEMPERAMENTAL BAROMETRIC CONTORTIONIST!' evoke the tone of authoritative bulletins while undermining their credibility. The work invites viewers to question how meaning is constructed through institutional language and public communication.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the piece employs high-contrast black ink on white paper, emphasizing typographic weight and spatial rhythm. Letters vary in size and alignment, creating a visual cadence that resembles both poster design and experimental poetry. The absence of imagery directs focus to the text’s cadence and ambiguity, reinforcing its conceptual nature through minimal visual means.
History & Provenance
Created in 2007, Untitled was acquired by The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its production. It is part of a broader body of work by Kerbel that explores the performative potential of spoken and printed language. The print emerged during a period when the artist was increasingly engaged with institutional critique and the aesthetics of public address systems.
Context
Kerbel’s work responds to late 20th-century conceptual practices that treat language as material. Untitled echoes influences from concrete poetry, Situationist détournement, and the use of bureaucratic tone in avant-garde art. Its resemblance to public signage situates it within a tradition of art that interrogates how information is disseminated and received in everyday environments.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to ongoing dialogues in contemporary art about the limits of linguistic clarity and the authority of institutional voice. Its continued presence in MoMA’s collection signals its relevance to discussions on semiotics, performance, and the subversion of public communication. The work remains a reference point for artists exploring the poetic potential of bureaucratic language.
Artist & collection
