With the solo exhibition >PRIVATE WURM<, the Essl Museum presents very recent works by the internationally renowned Austrian artist Erwin Wurm. In the works on display, Wurm takes an ironic and distanced look at changes in the perception of reality and identity triggered by the media.

Portrait Erwin Wurm, 2010 © Studio Erwin Wurm Photo: Christian Wind	Polizeikappe, 2010 styropor, epoxy resin, cloth 53 x 91 x 99 cm © Studio Wurm, Courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Photo: Mischa Nawrata	Big Coat, 2010 Aluminium, paint 224 x 81 x 64 cm © und Photo: Studio Erwin Wurm

A full-size house (16m long, 7m high), albeit compressed to a width of only about one metre, exemplifies the distortion to which images are subject. The house is modeled on the artist’s childhood home. Visitors will be able to actually enter the house and its individual rooms to feel the impact of its narrow confines. The dimensions of the furniture such as chairs, tables, plates and cutlery have been squeezed to the same extent as the house itself. The discrepancy between reality as it was and as we remember it, between the body and the world outside, becomes blatantly obvious.

Narrow House, 2010 © Studio Erwin Wurm Photo: Mischa Nawrata	Narrow House, 2010 © Studio Erwin Wurm Photo: Mischa Nawrata

This idea of distorted perception also formed the basis of the oversized Viennese policeman’s cap, which was specifically created for the exhibition and will be shown together with other recent artwork. The visitors will have the opportunity to ‘take shelter’ under the cap with its diameter of more than one metre.

Seating made from old furniture, which can be used by the visitors, as well as a pair of sculptures created in the last two years complete the exhibition.

Erwin Wurm’s creations demonstrate how much the world as shown by the media lastingly changes our way of thinking, living and creating. Reality is continuously adapted to the way it is presented in the media. Visions of the future, films, science fiction and cartoons play an important role in the artist’s work. The narrow constrictions of the house presented here contain references to the installations of Bruce Naumans or the slapstick comedy of odd couples such as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Through his objects, the artist gives the viewers an immediate experience of reality as staged by the media.

About twenty years ago, the deconstruction of traditional elements of sculpture was the starting point of a series of works that established Wurm’s reputation. Apart from objects, installations, drawings, videos and photographs, his well-known “One Minute Sculptures” complete the unique oeuvre of this artist.

Publication including “Making Of”

The exhibition will be complemented by a publication with a preface by Karlheinz Essl, various text contributions by Erwin Wurm and Günther Oberhollenzer and a documentation of the exhibition set-up.

Art Education

The art education team offers guided tours and workshops during the exhibition. Please access the current calendar of events at ART EDUCATION >>

OPEN HOUSE - Birthdayweekend SAT 27/11 and SUN 28/11/2010

The Essl Museum celebrates its 11th anniversary! A weekend with programme for visitors of all ages: guided tours, workshops, culinary highlights – free entrance.

Free bus shuttle

Visitors can reach the Essl Museum conveniently by free bus shuttle from Vienna city centre, Albertinaplatz 2 (Tues – Sun, 10 a.m., 12 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and return)

Press photos

Press photos are available upon request at the Press Office or via download from PRESS >>

Press and Public Relations Office

Erwin Uhrmann (head), uhrmann@essl.museum, +43 (0) 2243/370 50 60
Regina Holler-Strobl, holler-strobl@essl.museum, +43 (0) 2243/370 50 62