dum-dum, metalbreath wadcutter is an extremely
articulated site-specific installation, which goes
beyond the restrictions imposed by a gallery space.
tony oursler’s practice spans almost three decades
during which he has researched different ways of
using video. his integration of sculptural elements
and projections inside the frame of his installations
creates a malleable space in which language and
images coexist. at the very core of tony oursler’s
work lies the will to create a dialogue that invites
creative engagement on the part of the viewer.
oursler transforms emi fontana’s gallery space into
an abstract ‘shooting field’. wall video projections
of explosions act as background forbullet-shaped
sculptural elements of ‘talking heads’. these are
weird biomorphic shapes, seductive and repellent
at the same time. images and sounds are
synchronized by a sophisticated technological
system in a ‘sons et lumiéres’ featuring spectacular
visual effects and dramatic audio texts. tony oursler's
‘dum-dum, metalbreath, wadcutter’ conveys the
tragedy of war and the indiscriminate use and
availability of weapons through the apparent
dimension of a ‘fun house’, in contrast with the
images of the media in which the representation of
the real has lost its power.


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tony oursler
was born in 1957 in new york where he lives and
works. his work has been shown in prestigious
institutions such as:
the walker art center, minneapolis
documentaVIII, IX, kassel
museum of modern art, new york
whitney museum of american art, new york
the centre georges pompidou, paris
the carnegie museum of art, pittsburgh
skulptur projekte, munster
museum ludwig, cologne
the hirshhorn museum, washington
the tate, liverpool

http://www.tonyoursler.com