erwin wurm: business of beauty at art basel miami beach 2011

erwin wurm
'untitled', 2011
wood, metal, glass
59.84 x 29.13 x 18.11 inches 152 x 74 x 46 cm
image courtesy of the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york


austrian artist erwin wurm presents 'beauty business' at the bass museum of art as part of art basel miami beach 2011.
'beauty business' was created by the artist as a group of participatory pieces for this exhibition. wurm's series consists of
several sculptural works that possess a theatrical, humorous and philosophical quality. the essence of each piece focuses upon
notions of 'home' and 'dwelling'; the viewer's emotional response to the altered architectural works is the artist's aim.

'a dwelling is an in-between space where one may hesitate between worlds. the activity of dwelling is therefore a contemplative lingering--
a way of remaining in a space or location that is responsive to the nature of that particular space or location that is responsive
to the nature of that particular place, and open to whatever happens to trigger our imagination; through association, through fantasies,
daydreams, desires, or memories'. -lehmann maupin in reference to erwin wurm's exhibition, 'beauty business'



erwin wurm
'architecture', 2011
fabric, wood
33.46 x 23.62 x 43.7 inches 85 x 60 x 111 cm
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

in his typical style, the two works entitled 'architecture' are formed from wooden braces dressed in sweaters--
a playful approach to a formal form. each fashion piece, typically associated with warmth and security, are stretched and altered,
creating a more dynamic and presence within the gallery space.



erwin wurm 'architecture', 2011
fabric, wood
39.37 x 70.87 x 47.24 inches 100 x 180 x 120 cm
courtesy the artist and lehmann maupin gallery, new york photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

erwin wurm
'house II', 2011
bronze
20.87 x 39.37 x 31.5 inches 53 x 100 x 80 cm edition of 7, 2ap
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

'home i' and 'home ii' consist of two bronze coats, filled with tension as the movement of the work seems to be suspended in time;
wurm's focus upon the lingering nature of dwelling is embodied in these sculptural forms.



erwin wurm
'house 1', 2011
bronze
20.47 x 42.91 x 35.43 inches 52 x 109 x 90 cm edition of 7, 2ap
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

erwin wurm
'mies van der rohe - melting', 2005/2008
acrylic
43.31 x 28.74 x 36.22 inches 110 x 73 x 92 cm
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy of the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york


'mies van der rohe - melting' is a skyscraper-like sculpture, flooding into the floor space from it's base,
'home - gulp', consisting of a similar initial form, instead forms a rounded opening where the base of the tower extends
from the primary form.



erwin wurm
'home - gulp (i)', 2011
acrylic, paint
39.37 x 16.54 x 29.53 inches 100 x 42 x 75 cm
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy of the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york



erwin wurm
'kuhfladen', 2005
aluminum, paint
7.87 x 34.25 x 27.56 inches 20 x 87 x 70 cm edition of 8
photo by german guevara for e11even productions courtesy the artist, bass museum of art and lehmann maupin gallery, new york

rather than sinking into the floor space of the room, 'kuhfladen', a single story dwelling, appears to grow from an earthen mound.