The third world pushing its way to the regulars' table, 1981

About the Work

The soldiers crowding round the regulars' table have been firmly interwoven with the blackish-grey background by the brushwork. The subject of the painting and the location become one, almost to the point of dissolution. However, the white spiked helmets enable us to clearly identify the menacing-looking subject matter. Influenced by the title, we surmise that the soldiers are black-skinned. What Werner Büttner's work is articulating here is a politically motivated exploration of social realities typical of the artist, whereby the artist never takes clear sides. Ironic moments are paired with everyday politics, bar-room clichés with sarcastic humour - resulting in a form of painting which is rich in allusions and resolutely refuses to be categorised regarding its content.