CAREFULLY BALANCED ON THE EDGE OF A HOLE IN TIME

Language pieces

The American Lawrence Weiner (1942) is one of the most important postwar artists. In the late sixties he thoroughly overturned and renewed the definition of art and sculpture. He defines art as the relationship between people and objects and that between one object and another as related to people. For this reason he considers and describes his language pieces as sculptures. His works take the physical world and the cultural changes that take place there as their theme, but they should not be considered as an explanation of or comment on the specific spirit of the age in which we live.

The language pieces can be fixed or mounted on any sort of support: using adhesive letters or paint, on stickers or badges, or as audio on a CD. His work is not about context but about its use for those who are willing and wish to do so. What makes the work of Lawrence Weiner so important is that it can be carried out at several places at the same time, if it has the permission of the artist and/or the owner who possesses the numbered work in the form of a certificate. In addition, it adapts to the location: the English is translated into the language spoken where the exhibition is held.

For Performatik, Strombeek cultural centre is applying Lawrence Weiner’s work to the facades of the organisations taking part, using a stencil. This art can also literally be worn in the public space in the form of a specially-designed badge with the same work.