Jeff Koons

The Split-Rocker motif holds significant importance in Jeff Koons' oeuvre as it encapsulates his exploration of themes such as duality, childhood, and the intersection of art and popular culture. Combining a dinosaur and a pony, the bicephalous design reflects Koons' fascination with childhood nostalgia and the innocent wonder associated with toys. This duality is also a metaphor for the complexities of life, juxtaposing playfulness with a more profound commentary on art's role in society.

Koons' skill in blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic concepts is demonstrated in the present iteration of Split-Rocker. His collaboration with Bernardaud to create porcelain editions of this piece underscores the artist's commitment to high-quality materials and processes, allowing the piece to exist in a unique fusion with exquisite surface detail using traditional skills and techniques in the production of the piece.

Split-Rocker is a hallmark of Koons' innovative approach. It pushes boundaries within sculpture while inviting contemplation on the nature of beauty, nostalgia, and the cultural narratives surrounding childhood and imagination.

Created in 2000, the floral sculpture Split-Rocker is a highly complex architectural structure covered with a million brightly coloured flowers. The bicephalous piece, inspired by a rocking toy for children, is divided into two parts: the “Dino” section (the head of the dinosaur) and the rocking horse section (the head of a pony). Split-Rocker is a monumental sculpture by the artist, with a total surface area measuring 1043 square feet.

Koons' Split-Rocker sculpture was first presented in 2000 in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes (The Palace of the Popes) in Avignon and again in 2008 at the Chateau de Versailles. In 2012, it delighted visitors in the park at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland.