Today (June 10) marks the unveiling of the largest socially-engaged work of art in Moscow’s history. But that wasn’t the intent of artist Urs Fischer with his new show at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in the Russian capital.
’It just happened to be so,’ the Swiss-born, neo-Dadaist sculptor tells Wallpaper*. ’My goal in creating this work had nothing to do with size.’
He is referring to the latest edition of his ’YES’ project, poised outside the museum in Moscow’s Gorky Park, whereby he invites the public to fashion their own clay sculptures.
The outdoor installation will be on view through 21 August and is a part of ’Small Axe,’ a survey of works by Fischer that marks the Garage’s first anniversary and responds to the Rem Koolhaas-designed museum through the artist’s signature cheekiness. Fischer will manipulate museumgoers’ sense of perception through his work, like small sculptures that show a wilted flower in a vase and a rat playing in a piano. A life-sized candle will be lit daily, capturing the intimate exchange between a seated couple. Pictures of Fischer’s garden in Los Angeles, which he painted over before enlarging the final product, will also be on display.
Above all, Fischer hopes that the largest iteration thus far of the interactive ’YES’ project will bring people of all walks of life together. ’The project is focused on collaboration and communication between different people who probably would have no other chance to meet,’ explains Fischer. ’At Garage Square you can see couples, friends, children and adults, tourists and locals creating something together.’ §
