MUNICH.- A greater appreciation of contemporary sculpture can be gained from 25 selected works by 20 international artists, exhibited in nine rooms in the Pinakothek der Moderne. The spectrum of works ranges from wall reliefs and assemblages to light and film installations. Works on paper and photographs also clearly show the sculptural intent. At the same time the exhibits reflect a focal point in the collection that has evolved during the now ten-year history of the Pinakothek der Moderne.

Contemporary Sculpture
The concept of sculpture has fundamentally widened over the past 100 years. The matter-of-course exposure to found objects, the use of unusual materials and individual work methods have redefined this medium. Nevertheless, many artists still call themselves ‘sculptors’, and every three-dimensional work of art is still referred to as a ‘sculpture’, even if it has nothing to do with the traditional carving and working of stone or wood (Latin: ‘sculpere’). ‘Plastic arts’, derived from the additive sculptural process, as in the case of metal casts, is a term now largely forgotten.

In the space of the beholder
By virtue of its physicality, a sculpture confronts the viewer with its immediate presence. The medium often conditions the viewer’s physical bearing as well if an object needs to be observed from various angles. However, it longer just has to do with the space that a work of art occupies directly and defines aesthetically, but explicitly also has to do with the ‘resonance space’ of a viewer whose awareness of the object increases through his own movement, associations and memories, and sometimes also through sound.

Readymades and Social Sculpture
Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Beuys significantly influenced sculptural thought. The ‘readymade’ developed by Duchamp around 1913, using unaltered everyday objects in an artistic context, is reflected in works by Elmgreen & Dragset and Mark Manders. The Social Sculpture developed by Beuys in the 1960s that aimed at forming society and included the creative activity of non-artists as well, can be seen for example in the works of Christian Jankowski and Roman Ondák. The simultaneous use of found and created objects generates new correlations between history, magic and poetry (Steven Claydon, Bo Christian Larsson). The traditional preoccupation of sculpture with the body (Thomas Steffl), with weight and gravity (Wade Guyton) or with architecture (Manfred Pernice), however, also remains topical.

Artists
Nevin Aladag | Dirk Bell | Benjamin Bergmann | Steven Claydon | Elmgreen & Dragset | Wade Guyton | Christian Jankowski | Franka Kaßner | Bo Christian Larsson | Mark Manders | Jonathan Monk | Henrik Olesen | Roman Ondák | Manfred Pernice | Florian Slotawa | Thomas Steffl | Lorenz Straßl | Rosemarie Trockel | Heimo Zobernig