PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                            

 

 

ERWIN WURM

27 - 9 / 27 - 10 - 2000

 

Opening  27 - 9 - 2000, 8 pm, in presence of the artist

 

In collaboration with the Hellenic Center of Photography

7th International Month of Photography

 

Erwin Wurm is born in 1954 in Bruck (Austria); he lives & works in Vienna.

 

Recent Exhibitions (selection):

2001    Miro Foundation, Barcelona (solo)

2000    Taipei Biennal, Taïwan

            Partage d’exotisme, Lyon Biennal, France

            Art: Concept Gallery, Paris (solo)

            Jack Hanley Gallery, San Francisco (solo)

1999    Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria (solo)

            CAN Art Cnter, Neuchätel, Switzerland (solo)

            Free Coke, Greene Naftali Gallery, New York

            Let’s get lost, Central St Martin’s College, London

 

 

Erwin Wurm is often described as a deconstructor of the concept of “sculpture” and creator of a new definition of how we conceive it. Winckelmann’s reception of the grecian antique, symptomatic of a particular historical interpretation of “sculpture”, may initially appear directly opposed to Wurm’s work. Yet although his sculptures sever may ties to the conventions of the genre, they are nonetheless connected, in different ways, with that tradition and continuation. This has to do with the fact that Wurm’s sculptures are dependant on time. Strictly speaking, in order to view them correctly, one must stand next to them.

This is especially true of this “One Minute Sculpture”, a group of works which Wurm has been involved with for some years. The central component of most of these sculpture is a person. This means two different things: that the works requires the presence of an individual; and that the viewer is equally present as a part of the sculpture. The serie is so named because, by its very nature, each work can barely exist for much longer than “one minute” - a very, very short period of time in history of sculpture(...)

The pieces are documented in videos, each of which shows the preparation, rehearsals - including all the unsuccessful attemps - and then, for an instant the “completed” work (...)

Along with video, Wurm brings photography into play to record the instance at which his “One Minute Sculpture” are accomplished. From their moment of sculptural “ becoming”, these works appear absurd; their brief instance of possibility becomes an eternity.

 

Martin Pesch, Minute Man in FRIEZE n°52, may 2000.

 

This exhibition is the first presentation of Erwin Wurm’s work in Greece.

The gallery is opened  tuesday - friday 3 - 8 pm /  saturday 12 - 4 pm & by appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

Unlimited Contemporary Art

Athens