Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) was an American artist who came to prominence in the 1950s transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art. Rauschenberg is well-known for his "Combines" of the 1950s, in which non-traditional materials and objects were employed in innovative combinations. Rauschenberg was both a painter and a sculptor and “Combines” are a combination of both.  He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1993.   Today, Rauschenberg’s artworks are worth millions and are in the permanent collections of numerous National Galleries and more well known Guggenheim Museum.

Rauschenberg believed that "Painting is always strongest when in spite of composition, color, etc., it appears as a fact, or an inevitability, as opposed to a souvenir or arrangement. Painting relates to both art and life. Neither can be made. (I try to act in that gap between the two). A pair of socks is no less suitable to make a painting with than wood, nails, turpentine, oil and fabric. A canvas is never empty."  -Rauschenberg 

As Rauschenberg has inspired Taksu, to continue it’s forefront towards a modern contemporary gallery in South East Asia, his works have paved the way for many artists today. 

In recognition of his lifetime contribution to the arts, a selection of artists have taken up Rauschenberg’s spirit of working into their own art making. Choosing to push their boundaries of the unconventional to a step further.