Narrow Mist By Erwin Wurm
Cassandra Pizzey
Erwin Wurm displays his typical sense of humour in the exhibition Narrow Mist at UCCA.??
Austrian designer and artist Erwin Wurm is well known for his witty – and sometimes a little twisted – oeuvre, and his latest exhibition Narrow Mist is no exception. Currently on show at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, the interactive works play upon the natural curiosity of the visitors, challenging them to rethink our modern world.??
Narrow House is one of the works on show, and is modelled on the house the artist grew up in. Every part of the house – including all household goods– has been scaled to the slender proportions of the exterior, and the interior has been decorated in a nostalgic 1970s style. Visitors can walk through the house and experience a sense of claustrophobia as the walls seem to close in on them.??
In an adjacent gallery, Wurm’s box sculptures are on show. Larger than life bodies are dressed in everyday clothing, making them look decidedly human despite their somewhat square appearance. A third space houses one-minute sculptures, a collection of familiar objects displayed in an unusual way. Through written and drawn instructions, visitors get a chance to interact with the items and take a photo to preserve the moment forever.??
Narrow Mist will be on show at UCCA until 15 September, 2010.