“Dylaby,” an installation artwork by Robert Rauschenberg, was created in 1962 and embodies the principles of the Neo-Dada art movement. This avant-garde piece exemplifies the fusion of art and life, often characterized by the use of non-traditional materials and found objects, a hallmark of Neo-Dadaism.
The artwork presents an assemblage of various elements affixed to a swath of fabric draped and affixed on a vertical surface. Central to the composition is a worn, elongated wooden object, possibly a plank or board, partially enveloped by a prominently displayed, weathered Coca-Cola sign. This vintage advertisement features the recognizable colors and logo of the beverage, lending a quintessentially American pop-culture reference to the piece. Adjacent to this focal point are several other items: a crumpled piece of metal, a paint-splattered arrangement of miscellaneous objects, and a suspended, semi-circular metallic form. The intentional placement and juxtaposition of these disparate items evoke a sense of curated disorder, inviting the viewer to reflect on the interplay between commercial iconography and everyday materials. The fabric backdrop, with its tattered and stained appearance, adds a tactile dimension, enhancing the work’s raw, unrefined aesthetic.
