“Untitled (Aussen Alster Hotel)” is a self-portrait created by Martin Kippenberger in 1985. This artwork is associated with the Neo-Expressionism art movement.
In the artwork, Kippenberger presents a seemingly introspective self-portrait. The figure depicted appears to be covering his face with his left hand, which holds a cigarette between the fingers. The use of vibrant, yet somewhat subdued colors, and the cranium prominently displayed in tones of red and pink, convey a sense of emotional intensity and a raw, perhaps vulnerable state. The facial features and textures are rendered with a careful yet expressive crayon technique, highlighting the internal complexities of the portrayed subject. The background of the artwork reveals it is drawn on hotel stationery, with writings that add an enigmatic and personalized touch to the piece. The juxtaposition of the mundane hotel insignia with the intense self-portrait embodies the Neo-Expressionist tendency to blend high and low culture and to delve deeply into the psychology of the individual.
