‘Useful’ art by Franz West in London

Can an object be sociable? Is it possible to express the unconscious as a piece of furniture? Asking these questions and making something of a provocation are the sculptural experiments – lying somewhere between painting, design and sculpture – of Franz West. Because the work of an artist doesn’t make sense if it is disconnected from reality: “I want the artwork to be real, not like a dream or a movie” the artist has maintained since the nineties.

Thirty years on from his first appearance, the Whitechapel gallery in London has organised an extensive retrospective which presents the work of the Austrian artist (born in Vienna in 1947), who became famous in the eighties for the series of furniture/sculpture which invited one to relax and socialise.

What West asks for is the recognition of the utility of a work of art and the relationship (physical and psychological) with the user. His works ask to be touched, brought together, manipulated. In a word – used.

until 9.11.2003
Franzwestite: Franz West - works 1973-2003
Whitechapel Art Gallery
80-82 Whitechapel High Street, London
http://www.whitechapel.org
Franz West, <i>Waiting Area</i>, 2003. 20 chairs, each 86 x 62 x 46, metal, textile bands. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, London
Franz West, Waiting Area, 2003. 20 chairs, each 86 x 62 x 46, metal, textile bands. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, London
Franzwestite installation view, upper gallery, Whitechapel. Foreground: <i>Madley</i>, 1996/2003, <i>2 rubber and lacquer mats</i>, <i>6 metal chairs</i>. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, London
Franzwestite installation view, upper gallery, Whitechapel. Foreground: Madley, 1996/2003, 2 rubber and lacquer mats, 6 metal chairs. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery, London

Latest on Art

Latest on Domus

Read more
China Germany India Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Sri Lanka Korea icon-camera close icon-comments icon-down-sm icon-download icon-facebook icon-heart icon-heart icon-next-sm icon-next icon-pinterest icon-play icon-plus icon-prev-sm icon-prev Search icon-twitter icon-views icon-instagram