United Enemies

Two small male figures bound together stand atop a PVC pipe that serves as a plinth. They are dressed in shapeless rags and displayed under a glass cloche like scientific models. The heads resemble character studies in the tradition of the French caricaturist Honoré Daumier (1808–1879): completely unforgiving and yet filled with a warm attention to human psychology. Their grotesque faces betray their rage, cunning and suspicion, as well as the mutual dependence and obligations that most likely bind these two villains to one another. With Schütte, however, one can never be certain: they could just as easily be friends. They seem united, yes, but in actuality are probably divided, too – after all, every man has his own plans and ambitions.

Schütte began working on a series of such figures after a visit to Rome in June 1992. During his stay, he was inundated with news about corrupt Italian politicians as the Tangentopoli scandal came to light. More than half of the country's legislators were revealed to be involved in a nationwide bribery scandal. Human beings – and men in particular – showed their dark side. Schütte was inspired to make dozens of small sculptures like these from FIMO clay, a simple modelling clay for children that can be hardened by baking it in a regular oven. Within an hour, he had shaped the clay into old men’s faces, angry and confused. ‘I like to handle material. Working with clay is like therapy,’ he said in 2025.

He wrapped the figures in fabric from his own clothing and other found textiles, tying them with twine. The artist called these bound-together rivals United Enemies: eternally condemned to be both prisoner and guard to one another. Rather than portraits of specific politicians, these are tragicomic ‘types’ that demonstrate how one cannot exist without the other. Schütte also went on to make larger-than-life-size bronze versions of these figures later in his career.