Long-term loan from the Peter und Irene Ludwig Stiftung, Aachen, 1991
In Totem of Eight, a vertical-format work, a column of male heads with Afro-American features rises along the central axis, evoking the form of a totem pole. The surrounding areas are filled with brightly colored, spray-painted abstract patterns. Across the left side the inscription “TDT” is visible, perhaps referring to a graffiti crew (“The Dream Team”). However, as is typical of graffiti culture, such signs and references remain opaque to outsiders. To the uninitiated viewer, the painting thus appears as a kind of puzzle, resisting straightforward interpretation.