Erwin Wurm: One-Minute Sculptures
My imitation of One-Minute Sculptures by Erwin Wurm.
Erwin Wurm is an Austrian artist known for his creative interpretations of sculpture.
My introduction to the concept of “body as sculpture” began with creating my own one-minute sculpture. Today, this idea is central to much of my practice, but the notion of “body as sculpture” is still unfamiliar to many—just as it was to me initially. My non-artist friends don’t get it, and even some of my traditional artist friends haven’t heard of it.
Here’s the thing: sculpture isn’t limited to physical objects like stone or ceramic. It can be ephemeral, performance-based, and created with your own body. As the name suggests, body as sculpture uses the body itself as the medium.
That’s why I resonate with Wurm. He seems to grapple with the same dilemma—constantly questioning and reimagining what sculpture can be. Through One-Minute Sculptures, he’s expanded the definition of sculpture for the average art enthusiast. In this series, participants pose or interact with objects to create the art. The results are playful, exaggerated, memorable, and ephemeral—existing only in the moment. Without a body to engage with, there is no sculpture at all.
All in all, I appreciate how Wurm has made the form more understandable, especially to non-artists. He’s invited anyone to participate in creating body as sculpture and ephemeral works, blurring the line between artist and audience.
If you’re curious about what can be considered sculpture, start with Erwin Wurm.
