Paper Tiger, 50 x 70, 1969, Revolutionary powers harvest rape, 50 x 70, 1968 Distribution (pear), 82 x 78, 1971 Cotton Factory, 77 x 60.5, 1971, Mister Big, 77 x 60.5, 1971 all reproduction of silkscreen on paper. Potato cultures, wallpaper, reproduction, 1968-2006.

Thomas Bayrle was born in 1937 in Berlin and later trained as a weaver he is a well-known artist and long-time professor at the Städelschule in Frankfurt. From the early works to his current output he has used a wide variety of techniques and materials. Moveable machine-objects made of painted wood as well as silk screens, drawings, oil paintings, video works, computer-animations, advertising graphics, textiles, and wallpaper. He has also collaborated on art projects with many well-known artists.

Bayrle has long had an interest in China. In 1966, he designed and built a mixed-media construction he titled Mao Machine, an automatic painting on wood that was powered by an engine. It contained images of party members that the kinetic work transformed into a Maoist star and then into the face of Chairman Mao himself. Bayrle invited members of the Communist party to dinner, thinking that his machine would gain him entry. But he had put neckties on his Chinese Communists and the party walked out after dinner, deying him membership. (FO)