erwin wurm: gulp
lehmann maupin gallery, new york
november 4th to december 4th, 2010

erwin wurm
big gulp lying, 2010
aluminum, paint
32.28 x 78.74 x 47.24 inches
82 x 200 x 120 cm
edition of 3
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york


in 'gulp', austrian-born artist erwin wurm introduces the theme of the social envelope -
cars, clothing, food, houses, furniture - in order to annotate the fragility of both the individual
and collective identity behind it. he does so by using these items as personifications of a social context
through which individuals attempt to express themselves all the while being formed and deformed by it.



erwin wurm
jakob / big psycho VII, 2010
47.24 x 15.35 x 42.13 inches
120 x 39 x 107 cm
edition of 5
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
mr. mutt, 2010
acrylic, paint
11.42 x 19.29 x 14.17 inches
29 x 49 x 36 cm
edition of 6
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
mr. mutt, 2010
acrylic, paint
11.42 x 19.29 x 14.17 inches
29 x 49 x 36 cm
edition of 6
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
me on LSD, 2010
59.06 x 35.43 x 31.50 inches
150 x 90 x 80 cm
edition of 6
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york


in works such as 'me on LSD' - a single extended hand supporting a large cloud-like structure -
wurm translates psychological and mental realities into physical realities. the layers in which he
surrounds the body, both metaphorically and literally, such as the fattening-up or thinning-down
of people and things, are sculptural metaphors for an existential insecurity about the boundaries
of oneself.


erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

'I wanted to address serious matters, but in a light way. I want to reach more than just
an elite circle of insiders. my work speaks about the whole entity of a human being:
the physical, the spiritual, the psychological and political.' - erwin wurm

erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york




erwin wurm
mentalstatus, 2010
canvas, wool
102.36 x 102.36 x 1.57 inches
260 x 260 x 4 cm
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
gulp
installation view, lehmann maupin gallery, 540 w. 26th street
photo by kirsten c. springer
courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york


erwin wurm was born in 1954 in bruck an der mur / styria, austria.
he is known for his humorous approach to formalism.
his work has appeared in international exhibitions.
recent solo shows include 'narrow mist' at the ullens center of contemporary art, beijing, china,
'liquid reality' at the kunstmuseum bonn, germany, 'the artist who swallowed the world' at
kunstmuseum st. gallen, switzerland to name a few.
his work is included in collections throughout the world at solomon r. guggenheim museum,
peggy guggenheim collection, centre pomidou, musèe d'art contemporain de lyon, among others.
he currently lives and works in vienna.