Lawrence Weiner
31 Jan - 07 Mar 2009
LAWRENCE WEINER
"1⁄2 EMPTY – 1⁄2 FULL"
For almost four decades, Weiner has worked on the nature of language as a whole,which led him to investigate many linguistic and visual structures. As a result, his artisticproductions take multiple shapes including books, films, videos, performances and audioworks. In recent years, the American artist (born 1942, South Bronx, New York), hasbeen regarded as one of the most leading artists worldwide. By considering language asa material object which can be confused with many linguistic medium, Weiner has cometo offer an ambitious redefinition of the relationship between the artist and the viewer.
As Weiner’s works are mostly created for specific places, what he presents to thepublic’s eye is often new and exclusive. It is important to the artist to transgressconventional boundaries of language, which is why his art pieces should adapt to theculture in question. From then on, they are not only shown in English but also in thelanguage of the country. As a pure sculptural material and not as a formal medium ofcommunication, language turns out to be universally intelligible. This radical approachappears to be fully coherent with Weiner’s 1968 Statement of Intent:
1. THE ARTIST MAY CONSTRUCT THE WORK
2. THE WORK MAY BE FABRICATED
3. THE WORK NEED NOT BE BUILTEACH BEING EQUAL AND CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE ARTIST,THE DECISION AS TO CONDITION RESTS WITH THE RECEIVER UPON THEOCCASION OF RECEIVERSHIP.
"1⁄2 EMPTY – 1⁄2 FULL"
For almost four decades, Weiner has worked on the nature of language as a whole,which led him to investigate many linguistic and visual structures. As a result, his artisticproductions take multiple shapes including books, films, videos, performances and audioworks. In recent years, the American artist (born 1942, South Bronx, New York), hasbeen regarded as one of the most leading artists worldwide. By considering language asa material object which can be confused with many linguistic medium, Weiner has cometo offer an ambitious redefinition of the relationship between the artist and the viewer.
As Weiner’s works are mostly created for specific places, what he presents to thepublic’s eye is often new and exclusive. It is important to the artist to transgressconventional boundaries of language, which is why his art pieces should adapt to theculture in question. From then on, they are not only shown in English but also in thelanguage of the country. As a pure sculptural material and not as a formal medium ofcommunication, language turns out to be universally intelligible. This radical approachappears to be fully coherent with Weiner’s 1968 Statement of Intent:
1. THE ARTIST MAY CONSTRUCT THE WORK
2. THE WORK MAY BE FABRICATED
3. THE WORK NEED NOT BE BUILTEACH BEING EQUAL AND CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE ARTIST,THE DECISION AS TO CONDITION RESTS WITH THE RECEIVER UPON THEOCCASION OF RECEIVERSHIP.