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Mud Muse
© Robert Rauschenberg/Untitled Press, Inc./Bildupphovsrätt 2026
Mud Muse
Mud Muse
Photo: Prallan Allsten/Moderna Museet

Mud Muse

by Robert Rauschenberg
Artist (USA, 1925 - 2008)
Alternate Title
  • Lermusan
Date1968-1971
MediumBentonite clay in glass vat with sound-activated compressed-air system and control console
Dimensions122 x 274 x 366 cm
Classification
Countries
Credit LineDonation 1973 (New York Collection)
On view
Stockholm
RoomGallery 01:1
Object NumberNMSK 2174
CollectionsMaterialitet, The New York Collection
About the artworkIn the 1960s Robert Rauschenberg started experimenting with sound and Mud Muse was created in collaboration with engineer Billy Klüver. Inspired by the subterranean geysers of Yellowstone National Park among other things, he engaged his audience on a new and physical level. Mud Muse is painting and sculpture at the same time. A tank filled with a scatologically textured brownish mixture of water and bentonite, that bubbles, splashes and gurgles in response to the sounds of its own noises, as well as pre-recorded sounds (including bird songs, music and machine noises) and sounds made by the audience. Technically, Mud Muse bubbles by its own forces. Signatures, inscriptions and marks Osignerad Selected exhibition history Jorden - globala förändringar (1994) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Explosion (den 2 juni 2012 - den 9 september 2012) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm New York Collection for Stockholm (1973) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Den underjordiska himlen. Surrealism i Moderna Museets samling (den 26 oktober 2024 - den 17 januari 2027) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pontus Hulténs samling (2004) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mud Muses - A Rant About Technology (den 12 oktober 2019 - den 12 januari 2020) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Mud Muses : En tirad om teknologi : [Moderna Museet 12/10 2019-12/1 2020]Explosion! Måleri som handling / Painting as Action : [Moderna Museet 2/6-9/9 2012]Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992New York Collection for Stockholm : Moderna Museet : oktober 27 - december 2, 1973Jorden : globala förändringar : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : 4/6 - 9/10 1994Jorden : globala förändringar : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna, Stockholm : [4 juni - 9 oktober 1994] Bibliography Klüver, Billy och Martin, Julie. Four Difficult Pieces, Art-in-America, juli 1991, s 92-98. Hultman, Marianne, Robert Rauschenbergs Mud Muse - Konstens upplösning eller pånyttfödelse? D-uppsats i konstvetenskap vid Göteborgs universitet, ht 1996.