Erwin Wurm at Tang Contemporary Art

Beijing gallery Tang Contemporary Art recently reopened (after closing in January to prevent the spread of COVID-19) with a showcase of work by artists represented by Konig Galerie in Berlin.  The exhibition includes Austrian artist Erwin Wurm’s deliberately absurd ‘abstract sculpture’ (formed from variously sized cast bronze frankfurters) which brings to mind recent work at New York’s Lehmann Maupin Gallery which involved food treated as an object rather than something to eat.  Made entirely of concrete, this sculpture is a permanent version of Wurm’s One Minute Sculptures, in which participants interact with everyday objects. (Photo from New York Art Tours’ archive, Jan ’20).

Erwin Wurm, One Minute forever (hands/fruits), concrete, 15.35 x 7.87 x 5.91 inches, 2019.

Erwin Wurm at Lehmann Maupin Gallery

After visiting a chilling display of human bones at a cloister in Rome, Viennese artist Erwin Wurm adapted his signature ‘One Minute Sculptures’ (for which individuals pose with everyday objects in creative ways) into ‘One Minute Forever’ memento mori with a humorous twist. (At Chelsea’s Lehmann Maupin Gallery through April 19th).

Erwin Wurm, One Minute Forever (Bucket), epoxy resin, polyurethane, wood, metal, buckets, unique, 2013.