Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: "What is the most valuable thing in the world?"

The master replied: "The head of a dead cat."

"Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?" inquired the student.

Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its price."

Window Online is pleased to present Untitled (Sale of the Century) by Glenn Otto. For the duration of this exhibition Otto will auction a painting on TradeMe, the earnings of which will be used to make a second painting that will be gifted to the Window curators to hang in their office space. Merging the usual onsite/online binary at Window, the work on auction will be displayed beneath Richard Killeen’s permanent Red Insects, Blue Triangles[1] in the General Library foyer, gently rubbing shoulders with “big money art.”

Otto’s work sets up sequences of transactions, only to undermine these through his act of gifting. In this logic, the ‘exhibition’ is not the focus, but one of several exchanges in the layers of commerce. On the auction page hosted by Window Online, Otto explores the language of the amateur merchant, playing with the vernacular of the peddler, crook and delusional seller. Similarly, the content of the work – a still life flower arrangement inspired by Gerhard Richter and Matisse – references generic and decorative painting forms, drawing attention to how value is established differently across a single realm.

-

Glenn Otto completed a BFA (Hons) at Elam School of Fine Arts in 2012. Recent shows include Live Forever with Zak Penney at Grubby Corner (2013), ONLINE WINDOW at Window Online with People (2012), GLENN OTTO PRESENTS... at Ferari (2012) and Occasionalist at Artspace (2012).