Franz West: The 1990s

Product Description During the 1990s, Franz West’s work moved in new and innovative stylistic directions, as his career was solidified through important international exhibitions. This publication delves into this significant decade in an effort to contextualize the evolution of West’s singular practice. The 1990s proved critical in the development of the idiosyncratic style for which West is still known today. His key innovations from this period―which included the addition of exuberant color to his papier-m�ch� forms, the incorporation of furniture both as art object and as social incubator, and the inclusion of work by other artists in his own installations―resulted in dynamic, frequently interactive installations that helped to expand the possibilities of sculpture and the ways in which art is experienced. Produced on the occasion of David Zwirner’s 2014 exhibition in New York, this fully illustrated publication gives an in-depth overview of the decade, arguably the most important of the artist’s lengthy career. It features essays by noted West scholars Eva Badura-Triska and Veit Loers, as well as a personal account by Bernhard Riff on video collaborations made with the artist throughout the 1990s. Review Franz West was the most loved and lovable of Austrian artists. Variously described as a prankster, a mischief-maker and a joke, he was above all engaging -- Adrian Hamilton, The Independent Franz West s work is nutty, subversive and intriguing. -- Alice Rawsthorn, The New York Times West s dynamic work challenges traditional approaches to sculptural designs, functions, and displays, and continues to inspire artists. -- Emory Lopiccolo, Whitewall We live in Westworld. The artist s lump, informal, pomposity-puncturing objects set the tone for a huge amount of recent art production. --Martin Herbert, Artreview From the Back Cover ?Emerging in the early 1970s, Austrian artist Franz West (1947-2012) developed a unique aesthetic that engaged equally high and low reference points and often privileged social interaction as an intrinsic component of his work. By playfully manipulating everyday materials and imagery in novel ways, he created objects that serve to redefine art as a social experience, calling attention to the way in which art is presented to the public, and how viewers interact with works of art and with each other. The 1990s proved critical in the development of the idiosyncratic style for which West is still known today. Key innovations from this period―which included the addition of exuberant color to his papier-m�ch� forms, the incorporation of furniture both as art object and as social incubator, and the inclusion of work by other artists in his own installations―resulted in dynamic, frequently interactive installations that helped to redefine the possibilities of sculpture and the ways in which art is experienced. Published by David Zwirner Books on the occasion of the gallery’s 2014 exhibition, this fully illustrated publication will give an in-depth overview of this decade, arguably the most important of the artist’s lengthy career, and will feature essays by noted West scholars Eva Badura-Triska and Veit Loers. About the Author Franz West (1947 2012) began exhibiting his work in the 1970s and gained international recognition in the 1980s, with significant shows at such venues as the Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz; Secession, Vienna (both 1986); Skulptur. Projekte in M�nster (1987); Kunsthalle Bern (1988); and the Institute for Contemporary Art, PS1, Long Island City, New York (1989). In the 1990s, the artist s work was presented at the Austrian Pavilion of the 44th Venice Biennale (1990); documenta IX, Kassel (1992); The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Dia Center for the Arts, New York (both 1994); and the St�dtisches Museum Abteiberg, M�nchengladbach (1996). A major, mid-career retrospective, Franz West, Proforma, was organized by the Museum modern