Dieter Roth | P.O.TH.A.A.VFB

Dieter Roth
P.O.TH.A.A.VFB (Portrait of the artist as Vogelfutterbüste)
Cologne, Germany: Edition Galerie Hake, 1968/1969
27 x 27 x 27 cm
Birdfood and chocolate.
Edition of 30 signed, dated and numbered copies.

Roth's first multiple using chocolate is a self-portrait of the artist as Vogelfutterbüste (Bird food bust). The title refers to James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, which Roth found "sentimental", "cloying" and "kitsch". Here the artist is portrayed as a much older man than the then 38 year old Roth. The sculpted bust was cast in chocolate by bookbinder Rudolf Rieser and then sprinkled with birdseed, wrapped and offered for sale. The works were intended to be left outside and eaten by the birds.

Roth's signature appears on a label on the back of the plate and the title "P.O.TH.A.A.VFB" is typewriter punched onto a label on the front of the plate.