Erwin Wurm

Erwin Wurm, born in 1954 in Augsburg, Austria, is an Austrian photographer and sculptor. He currently lives and works in Vienna The artist's training began in 1977 at the Mozartheum University in Salzburg and continued at the School of Applied Art in Vienna in the 1980s. Erwin Wurm is also a professor of sculpture at the Beaux-Arts in Paris and works at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

The artist's work is inspired by the "Fluxus" movement which places humor and derision at the center of the artistic approach or even the derision of Dada or Duchamp Erwin Wurm transforms banal objects into absurd sculptures. Originally a sculptor, the artist defines sculpture as he sees fit and seeks to emancipate himself from the conventional definition of sculpture which is a three-dimensional creation. He introduces his sculptures through photography Erwin Wurn seeks to arouse public amusement by reinterpreting everyday objects and situations, which also demonstrates the artist's critical thinking.

Among the artist's major works we can cite One Minute Sculptures created in 1997. With this work, Erwin Wurn offers us an original vision of sculpture: it is a living protocol which invites visitors to take different postures. Thus the visitor becomes an integral part of the work. This work is particularly made famous thanks to a Red Hot Chili Peppers music video entitled “Can't Stop” in which the sculptures appear.

In addition, the artist also critiques consumer society through his works. Indeed we can cite here works such as “Fat House” or “Fat Car” which are bloated cars and houses which question the notions of possession and accumulation.

Erwin Wurm has been exhibited in various galleries and museums around the world. We can cite the Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York, the MoMA in New York, the Palais de Tokyo, the Jack Hanley Gallery in San Francisco, the MUMOK in Vienna or even the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon in 2007 which was an exhibition of great magnitude with around a hundred works by the artist on display.