KOLLER VIEW 4/24

pre view. 02 5 Peter Fischli and David Weiss, the Swiss artist duo known as Fischli/Weiss, often used everyday ma- terials in their work in order to deconstruct precise- ly that everyday life. Their objects and installations are designed to invite the viewer to interact and find their own interpretation of what is displayed. But this doesn’t mean that the artists make it easy for their au- dience. They put it this way: ‘There is always a certain poetry in the observation of the banal. But it requires a lot of patience’. In the 2001 work in our current auc- tion, a white-glazed clay bowl with black and yellow streaks, seemingly modelled by hand, is presented on a white exhibition pedestal like a precious gem (ill. 1). The streaks of colour appear to have been made ran- domly and convey an impression of imperfection. The sculpture is not a ready-made à la Marcel Duchamp, an everyday object found and elevated to the status of a work of art by means of recontextualization. Rather, it is a precisely handcrafted polyurethane sculpture, a deceptively realistic copy. With a touch of irony, Fisch- li/Weiss detach the object from its function, thereby drawing particular attention to it. Roni Horn produced her six-part work ‘Stevens’ Bou- quet’ in a strictly limited edition of only three examples (ill. 2). The structure of the installation and the choice of aluminium and resin materials are reminiscent of American minimalism, but at the same time, the con- trast between the coolness of the material and the sometimes delicate pastel shades of the letters inten- sifies the sensual perception. The work enters into a tense dialogue between language and form. 1 Fischli /Weiss (1952) (1946–2012). Untitled. 2001. Polyurethane, painted white. Cube: 80 × 50 × 44 cm. Bowl: D 19 cm. Estimate: CHF 70 000/100 000 2 For further information PostWar & Contemporary Clarisse Doge & Jara Koller doge@kollerauctions.com Online Catalogues www.kollerauctions.com 2 Roni Horn (1955). Stevens’ Bouquet. 1991. Aluminium and resin. 1/3. 160 × 120 × 38.5 cm (variable). Estimate: CHF 120 000/180 000