From his abstract sculptures and collage to furniture and largescale
works, the character of Franz West's work is unrestrainedly
irreverent, and yet also profoundly philosophical. Deeply influenced
by Viennese actionism and the Viennese art scene of the 1960s and
1970s, West sought to relocate art from pristine gallery spaces into
the everyday. His Passstucke (Adaptives) -papier-mache pieces that
were intentionally made to be handled - explored an immediate
relationship between art and its audience in a performative but also
psychological way. Extending this theme, he later created playful
sculptures that doubled as seats and communal spaces. In his final
years he produced a number of large, coloured aluminium sculptures
for installation in public spaces (including Central Park, New York, the
Place Vendome, Paris, and the Stubenbrucke in Vienna).
Throughout his career, West collaborated with numerous artists,
musicians, writers and photographers, many of whom have been
interviewed for this new publication, providing a richly detailed and
personal overview of the artist's 40-year career. This new publication
ably examines both the artist's ironic, punk sensibility and his original
approach to materials, colours and forms. Also included are examples
of his lesser-known drawings and works on paper.
In 2011, West was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale
and has twice been selected for the Kassel Documenta (IX & X);
and, much like his contemporaries Mike Kelley or Gerhard Richter,
West has become a key figure of inspiration for a generation of
younger artists.