While the artist uses collages as the starting point for his paintings, the former are not only preparatory studies but a strategy that enables juxtaposing realities and unexpected associations, which are major characteristics of his extensive oeuvre. In this combination of the everyday and the commonplace, a sceptical perspective becomes manifest as a critical method. With cutting wit, Büttner breaks the spell of daily social events and renders their values relative and benign.

This lavishly-produced book presents newly commissioned texts as well as key essays relating to Büttner’s practice, and—taken with its sister volume concerning his painting, Coincidence in Splendour, are the first substantial books on Büttner in English.