
'distract', 2012 by erwin wurm
bronze, patina (anthracite, matt finished),
187 kg 106 x 88 x 84 cm (41.73 x 34.65 x 33.07 in)
all images courtesy the artist and galerie thaddaeus ropac, paris/salzburg
erwin wurm: wittgensteinian grammar of physical education
galerie thaddaeus ropac pantin, france
on now through to the 27th of april, 2012
austrian artist erwin wurm's latest body of work on show at galerie thaddaeus ropac in pantin, france celebrates playful destruction in an exhibition titled
'wittgensteinian grammar of physical education'. within the exhibition space are smatterings of clay models denoting existing buildings of european
and american architecture - all malformed from the artist having punched, crushed and kicked the works with his own body weight.
these traces of destruction are frozen through castings in bronze, acrylic or even polyester, and embellished with silver or gold-plating.
some of the buildings are well known, others anonymous and some chosen for personal reasons, the arhcitecture spans prisons, warehouses,
psychiatric clinics, bunkers, and even a house that once belonged to his ex-wife. the narrenturm (madhouse tower) in vienna is marked by footprints,
san quentin state prison has been slashed open, and alcatraz dons a gaping hole - dug out by hand. the malformations give the pieces
the signature amorphous character so iconic of wurm's work.

'dismiss', 2012
aluminium
33 x 95 x 52 cm (12.99 x 37.4 x 20.47 in)

'liegen auf haus ex', 2012
bronze, silver-plated
32 x 82 x 50 cm (12.6 x 32.28 x 19.69 in)

'samurai', 2012
bronze, patina (black, matt finished)
39 x 98 x 59 cm (15.35 x 38.58 x 23.23 in)

'divert', 2012
bronze, gold-plated
22 x 54 x 36 cm (8.66 x 21.26 x 14.17 in) Ed. 3/5
courtesy the artist and galerie thaddaeus ropac, paris/salzburg

'drowsy' , 2012
bronze, patina (black, matt finished)
35 x 41 x 75 cm (13.78 x 16.14 x 29.53 in)

'alcatraz', 2012
bronze, patina (black, matt finished)
35 x 100 x 64 cm (13.78 x 39.37 x 25.2 in)

'zorro (san quentin)', 2012
bronze, rusty patina
40 x 89 x 92 cm (15.75 x 35.04 x 36.22 in)

'disruption', 2012
acrylic, pink paint
58 x 58 x 60 cm (22.83 x 22.83 x 23.62 in) Ed. 4/5
courtesy the artist and galerie thaddaeus ropac, paris/salzburg


'dodge' , 2012
bronze, rusty patina
45 x 82 x 57 cm (17.72 x 32.28 x 22.44 in)

the opening of erwin wurm's pieces for the 'wittgensteinian grammar of physical education' at galerie thaddaeus ropac, paris/pantin was accompanied by a performance piece
photo by philippe servent

photo by philippe servent

photo by philippe servent
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