Rachel Wither's labels Signer's work as ‘time-sculptures’. As they "share traditional sculpture’s concern with the crafting of physical materials in three dimensions, but they extend that concern into what may or may not be characterised as the fourth dimension: the dimension of time. Time-sculpture investigates the transformation of materials through time, focusing the viewer’s attention on the experience of the event, the changes wrought, and the forces involved."
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Rachel Wither's labels Signer's work as ‘time-sculptures’. As they "share traditional sculpture’s concern with the crafting of physical materials in three dimensions, but they extend that concern into what may or may not be characterised as the fourth dimension: the dimension of time. Time-sculpture investigates the transformation of materials through time, focusing the viewer’s attention on the experience of the event, the changes wrought, and the forces involved."
Born in 1938 in Switzerland, in between 1966 and 1972 he attends art schools in his natal country and Poland. It is during the 80s that he develops his 'action' or 'time' sculptures, during which he carefully sets up and carries out strictly planned and documented procedures. In Attaché Case (1989/2001) he drops a concrete-filled briefcase, or for Cap with Rocket (1983) he ignites his knitted hat as it shoots into the air dragged by a firework. The record of these explosions, collisions, burnings or projections bear aesthetic results that, with swiftness and humor, bring out all palettes of human emotions - melancholy, violence, frankness, fear, silliness - and become critical commentaries of our everyday existence. While he has exposed all over the world, is represented by one of the strongest art galleries in Europe (Hauser & Wirth) and is part of the most important contemporary art collections of the world, such as the Walker Art Center or the Fond National d'Art Contemporain in France, he resides in the small town of St.Gallen in Switzerland.
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