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Franz West

September 6–October 20, 2001
Heddon Street, London

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view

Works Exhibited

Franz West, Group with cabinet, 2001 (detail) 8 papier mâché sculptures, Dimensions variable

Franz West, Group with cabinet, 2001 (detail)

8 papier mâché sculptures, Dimensions variable

Franz West, Knutschnische, 2000 Various mediums by various artists, Dimensions variable

Franz West, Knutschnische, 2000

Various mediums by various artists, Dimensions variable

Franz West, Bryn, 2001 Circular brown sculpture and two silver divans, Dimensions variable

Franz West, Bryn, 2001

Circular brown sculpture and two silver divans, Dimensions variable

About

"When the cumbersome turns to beauty"
—Franz West, in reference to one of his sculptures, and derived from the title of an essay on Etruscan art.

Gagosian Gallery is pleased to announce the forthcoming exhibition of new work by the celebrated Austrian artist Franz West.

West (b. 1947) belongs to a generation of artists influenced by action and performance art of the 1960s. He has evolved his concept of sculpture partly by incorporating elements of performance while utilizing classical procedures of clay and gesso modeling. West's choice of materials and his physical and psychological references range from prosthesis-construction and furniture making, to Freud, Gestalt-theory and Wittgenstein.

Among the exhibition's highlights is a group of papier-mâché sculptures resting on tables and cabinets. The colourful amorphous head-like forms are imbued with aspects of both physical and spiritual worlds. Also on view are 'environments' that posit relationships between the combinations of every day objects with diverse artworks by the likes of Pistoletto, Bustamante, Kounellis the collective "Gelatin", and others. West's sculptures and installations have been described as "in-between forms", blurring the distinction between art and bodily experience, while exploring the crosscurrents between the artist and different contemporary media.

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