For three months Biel, Switzerland, hosted a special kind of sculpture. It was special not simply because it was by one of Switzerland's most famous contemporary artists-Thomas Hirschhorn-and dedicated to one of the most prominent authors in the history of Swiss literature, Robert Walser. Beyond that, this sculpture was a redefinition of sculpture itself, because what takes on a plastic form here is not made of stone, steel, or bronze. It is society itself that helped to develop this work of art. In 2016 Thomas Hirschhorn and the curator Kathleen Buhler began doing field research in Biel, the city of Robert Walser's birth, connecting with residents, clubs, artists, literati, and experts. This resulted in a multifaceted agenda. Every day the two offered events such as readings, walking tours, lectures, and children's activities. All of this ultimately comprised the Robert Walser-Sculpture. Never before has an entire city been integrated into a temporary work of art in this way.

About the Author
THOMAS HIRSCHHORN (*1957, Bern) lives in Paris. His monuments, altars, and kiosks are admired around the world and have been award-ed numerous accolades. Among other honors, Hirschhorn is the win-ner of the Prix Marcel Duchamp, the Basel Joseph Beuys Prize, and the Grand Prix Art/Prix Meret Oppenheim from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture.


Book Information
ISBN 9783775746809
Author Kathleen Buhler
Format Paperback
Page Count 800
Imprint Hatje Cantz
Publisher Hatje Cantz
Weight(grams) 2560g