Erwin Wurm, One Minute Sculptures 1997. Tate. © Erwin Wurm.
8 rooms in Performer and Participant
What happens when a sculpture is looked at as a performance?
Erwin Wurm challenges the idea that a sculpture must be solid, long-lasting, or even physically present. In his ongoing series, One Minute Sculptures, anonymous people take on unusual and fleeting interactions with everyday objects, which are then photographed by the artist. Here, a selection of photographs capture participants in absurd poses, such as balancing on a door or pressing buckets against a wall. A video nearby also shows the precarious nature of the interactions. The works transform moments of play and awkwardness into reflections on time, form, and the body in art.
Wurm provides instructions on how to perform the sculptures, often as a simple drawing or a written phrase. The participant then tries to hold the pose for 60 seconds. In this short timeframe, the performer becomes both the subject and the material of Wurm’s sculptures. Through humour and absurdity, the artist’s instructions prompt reflection on the seriousness that is usually assigned to art and art galleries.
Double Bucket, Wurm’s performance piece involving two plastic buckets and a plinth, will also be in this room at regular intervals. You are welcome to take part and try out becoming the art when the buckets are on display.