Erwin Wurm: Artist Extraordinaire

Austrian artist Erwin Wurm and his One Minute Sculptures transcends the concept of what we know of as chiseled or molded art and challenges us to think beyond the box. 

There is a saying that anyone can be an artist.  Anyone can do or make something and claim that its art according to their point of view.  Take Joan Miró for example; his creations look like scribbles any five-year-old can do such as The Red Sun or The Gold of the Azure.  For the untrained eye, his works are nothing more than random drawings that lack meaning.  Critics would disagree, however, saying his biomorphic forms and geographic shapes have depth and substance influenced by Surrealism.  

While anyone can certainly claim to be an artist, not everyone has the ability draw out feelings or emotions from a specific piece of art.  Only sheer talent can produce that.  Having a degree in Interior Design, I was exposed to a myriad of artists along with their works.  Through the years, I've noticed that every painter, sculptor, photographer, and designer have a mission, a purpose for all of their one of a kind creations.  There is an invisible but palpable driving force that pushes them to produce artful pieces.  These may be expressions of their personal beliefs, ideals, visions, and sometimes, even their unique perception of reality.  Geniuses in their own right, these artists are individuals whose talents have sprung from the very depths of their psyche. 

Renowned international artist Erwin Wurm belongs to this preferential congregation.  He is known for his thought provoking works such as the Fat Cars Series, the Narrow House, and Melted Buildings who recently represented Austria in the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017 together with Brigitte Kowanz.  Erwin Wurm is an Austrian sculptor, artist and photographer who rose into prominence in the late 1990s with his One Minute Sculptures.  Here, Wurm provides written or drawn instructions to participants and indicates how every display is to be performed or acted out.  The artist makes use of everyday objects such as buckets, pens, sweaters, shoes and challenges the perception of what we all recognize as a sculpture.  With the incorporation of photography, live performance and highlighting the materials used in each sculpture, these ephemeral objects, along with the individuals who realize each piece, become one and are now the  "added" objects that are viewed for a few minutes.  His works have also permeated into pop culture and has inspired other virtuosos to acknowledge them such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers in their Can't Stop music video.  

In cooperation with the Ayala Museum and 1331 Mabini, the Philippines plays host to Erwin Wurm's exhibition: One Minute Sculptures and the Knitted Wall.  These One Minute Sculptures asks the viewers to participate in each showcase allowing him or her to become the actual artwork.  Wurm veers away from formal museum rules of strict art appreciation -- admiring the pieces from afar -- into enthusiastic and actual viewer participation.  The Knitted Wall exhibit is an oversized knitted sweater, a derivative of his Clothes Sculptures series that creates a relationship between the viewer, the sweater, and its structure. 

Senior Curator and Head of Conservation of the Ayala Museum, Kenneth Esguerra gave the opening remarks during the press launch.

2 Buckets, 1 Minute.

Be in a shell for one minute

Double Piece. 2 persons one sweater

Representatives of 1331 Mabini and Ayala Museum trying out Erwin Wurm's piece for themselves.

Take the shoes – follow the instruction invent a poem and speak it out loud. Do htis for one minute.

Marga Manlapig, Features Writer for the Philippine Tatler recited one of her poems while doing the pose. 

This pose is quite tricky but doable if you're flexible and can stand still on one leg.

Me with artist Erwin Wurm whose body of work challenges the principle, permanence, and protocol of sculpture.

Me wearing two buckets for one minute.  Participants got the chance to have a polaroid picture taken while following Erwin Wurm's instructions for each of his works.  I got a signed one from the artist himself!

I drew up the courage to volunteer and become the one whom others viewed.  I already disliked the thought of being gawked at by total strangers, but to fully appreciate the piece and understand Erwin Wurm, I knew I had to experience the exhibit for myself.  My initial thought was complete and absolute absurdity.  But then again, the longer I stayed there covered by the bucket over my head and another in my feet … I thought of the silence … and the plastic … and imagining my thoughts bounce against the walls of the bucket: random, nonsensical views of my current state in life as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, etc.  Oddly enough, I found myself actually liking the state of being covered beneath the darkness of the bucket -- it was like my minute of tranquility from the harrowing struggles of everyday life.  It didn't quite become as irrational as I thought.   The quietness drenched my physical state and warranted me to grasp the purpose of this artistic exercise making it a personal, conscious experience that others happen to lay their eyes upon.  That was my moment of realization.  I'm sure others who've acted out the instructions will have different observations for themselves.

During the opening night of Erwin Wurm's exhibit along with my dapper date.

I find it amazing how these artists generate their brand of work and create a connection with their audience.  Aside from the distinct visual aesthetics, the real gift that artists process lies in the emotion that viewers draw from the pieces they produce.  Do you want to make your deduction of the One Minute Sculptures?  Why not experience Erwin Wurm's exhibit for yourself?  The exhibition runs from April 27 – June 10, 2018, at the Ground Floor Gallery of the Ayala Museum, Makati corner De La Rosa St., Greenbelt Park, Makati City.  The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  For particulars, you may contact (632) 7598288, Email: hello@ayalamuseum.org or check their website at www.ayalamuseum.org.  

I urge you to step in and appreciate each work of art!