| Lawrence Weiner |
Lawrence Weiner (New York, USA, 10 October 1942) uses verbal language as a veritable sculptural material. In the late Sixties and Seventies he attracted the attention of international critics for his installations, books and theoretical reflections, becoming one of the central figures of conceptual art. His work centres mainly on an investigation into the relationship between people and things, through the simple presentation of words in space. His works are often reflections on the quality of a place and offer one of the best examples of art freed from the traditional conventions of sculpture. His best known works consist of textual interventions on the walls of the exhibition space. In these the texts describe processes, materials and structures which each spectator can freely imagine.
His words – as opposed to the literature which describes existential states – make reference to objective reality and materials existing in nature, but elude any specific or identifiable definition. Ever since 1969, the following declaration has accompanied his works: 1) the artist may construct the piece; 2) the piece may be fabricated; 3) the piece may not be built. Each being equal and consistent with the intent of the artist, the decision as to condition rests with the receiver upon the occasion of receivership. The material execution of the work is not necessary; the original of the work lies in the idea, in the linguistic formulation which, once published, is in the public domain. |
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