Es war mein Irrtum gewesen, daß wir alle zusammen etwas erreichen müßten. Jeder von uns ist eine Insel, von verräterischem Wasser umschlossen, und was wir alle zusammen erreicht haben, ist nichts als Zufall - es konnte ebensogut dies wie auch etwas völlig anderes gewesen sein. Aber was soll ich nun tun? Leben wie sie und warten, bis wieder Urwald über all das gewachsen ist?
Die letzten Zeilen. In: Louis Paul Boon, Menuett. Dt. v. B. und A. Antkowiak. Bln, Alexander Vlg, 2011.
The bibliography for conceptual art is long and thoughts about it are ample. Lawrence Weiner´s „Statement of Intent“ from 1968 is in its clarity and conciseness an absolute assertion:
1. THE ARTIST MAY CONSTRUCT THE WORK
2. THE WORK MAY BE FABRICATED
3. THE WORK NEED 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 three sculptures in our exhibition
MADE DONE WITH A PINCH OF SALT
PEELED PAST THE CORE
SKEWERED WITH A SLIVER OF GOLD
show impressively how Lawrence Weiner opens the wide field of precise ambiguity. The alchemy of words within their deep and bold meanings reveals a world full unheard wonders, without turning any given act in daily life into an act full of pathos. It points out both the bitterness and the delightfulness, freed from the words. Doesn´t it entail the idea that it is the actions that matter?
Galerie Hubert Winter has been working with Lawrence Weiner since 1984.
The upcoming exhibition follows a long tradition of solo shows with him. With his significant work SMASHED TO PIECES (IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT) on the Flakturm in the Esterházy park Lawrence Weiner is present in Vienna´s public space since 1991. The sculpture is a long term loan to the city of Vienna and its people:
“AS THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES IT IS A CONSTANT THOUGHT THAT ART IN PUBLIC SPACE IS NOT ABOUT THEM & IT IS NOT ABOUT ME IT IS ABOUT WE.” (Lawrence Weiner, 2002)