Cathy's Art Diary

Mind bending installation at Tate Modern by Peter Fischli and David Weiss. All the objects seen in what looks like an abandoned workshop are made from polyurethane carved and painted to resemble the original piece. The commentary likens it to a “three-dimensional trompe-l’oeil still life” and calls it a reversal of Duchamp’s idea of the readymade. I just knew it blew my mind and I so wanted to touch the items. It was originally made for the opening of the Tanks at the gallery in 2000 where is was now being shown again. I don’t remember seeing it before. Closes February 2022    

Fun exhibition at Sprüth Magers of three installation works by Peter Fischli and David Weiss. The main work on show was Raft, part of which is shown here, which is a sculpture of objects on a raft made in polyurethane. Referencing the Raft of the Medusa in the Louvre in this item I felt it was memories rathe than people being saved. The objects were eclectic mix of paint pots, toilet rolls, radios, old furniture, crates, an accordion and much more. The whole thing was surrounded by circling crocodiles and hippopotamuses, albeit that in this case they were circulating in another room.    On the first floor the installation consisted of 12 tables with groups of black and white photographs which I again felt was about snapshots of memories although in this case it was looking at the art of amusements parks but with the colour and excitement removed. I admit I never found the third video installation which was in the basement and never worked out what the longest t...