Austrian artist Erwin Wurm’s One Minute Sculptures—comprised of everyday objects and furniture placed on a large, low pedestal—are inscribed with instructional drawings and texts indicating actions to be performed by the public. Wurm’s work is completely dependent on such participation and his instructions are meant as a proposal: the work is not ‘active’ until the instruction is carried out. The success of these ephemeral pieces is determined by the exactness with which the directions are executed. Though seemingly humorous, the works are about physical, psychological and philosophical engagement. Wurm’s One Minute Sculptures have influenced a generation of artists by redefining what a sculpture is and how the public engages with the medium.
