Video production: Carolin Röckelein

 

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
April 27–August 10, 2019
Berlin

Sprüth Magers is pleased to present HAUS, a solo exhibition by Fischli Weiss, the Swiss artist duo known since the 1980s for their films including Der geringste Widerstand (The Least Resistance) and ambiguous sculptural everyday objects.

At the core of this new exhibition is Haus (House), a work Peter Fischli and David Weiss first developed for Skulptur Projekte Münster in 1987 and subsequently showed in exhibitions at the Guggenheim Museum, New York and Museo Jumex, Mexico City (2016). An aluminum version of the work was permanently installed in Zurich last year. This exhibition focuses on the architectural reference system at the heart of the artists’ work with a selection of sculptures and archival material.

Haus was preceeded by a model-like sculpture with the same form that took aspects of the sketch and model as its subject matter. The artists continued to develop their interest in everyday architecture and brought the sculpture back to the public sphere for Münster. Nestled in an unpretentious area far from the usual tourist attractions, passersby heading to work identified it as an artwork through its 1:5 scale. The miniaturized building reflected its immediate surroundings and the functional architectures and activities typical to this public place including work, infrastructure and productivity. Its generic character derives from late modernist architectural form and the resulting aura of the everyday. The version of Haus in the Berlin exhibition is the wooden mold used for the aluminum casting of the outdoor sculpture in Zurich, consequently combining the model character of the sculpture with the idea of monumentality. The building represents the last moment of modernism, where utopian-positivist ideas drifted into the pragmatic and ultimately the commonplace. This strangely melancholic moment is compacted in this replica office complex’s unusual scale, which is simultaneously too large for a model and too small for a building.

 

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Radio (2010) continuously transmits a sound collage of snippets of broadcasts on everyday topics such as mobile phone contracts, news, sports and advice on modern life.

These works are accompanied by sculptures made of black rubber and unfired clay which explore the instability of concepts and address aspects of living: a residential area made of unfired clay, a material which radiates both transience and fragility and questions its own assertion, or a candle made of black rubber - an object that provides atmosphere and cosiness in everyday life. Further sculptures including the small corner (2012), brick (2005), or wall (1986) either draw tangible reference to architecture or, as with the seat cushion (1987) and slab (1988), embody more abstract aspects of the interior or everyday domestic living.

Finally, archival material related the Haus complex of works, summarised in the recently produced artist’s book on the same, offers comprehensive insight into this specific aspect of Fischli Weiss’s œuvre.

 

Installation Views
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Details
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, April 27–August 10, 2019
Photo: Peter Fischli

Details
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1 of 9
Exhibited Works
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Haus, 1987

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Haus, 1987
Wood, acrylic, aluminum, safety glass, and paint
350 × 570 × 410 cm
137 7/8 × 224 3/8 × 161 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Stool, 1987

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Stool, 1987
Black rubber cast
55 × 55 × 39 cm
21 5/8 × 21 5/8 × 15 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Corner, 2012

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Corner, 2012
Black rubber cast
Sculpture: 55 × 24.5 × 25 cm
21 5/8 × 9 5/8 × 9 7/8 inches
Plinth: 33 × 33 × 80 cm
13 × 13 × 31 1/2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Wall, 1986

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Wall, 1986
Black rubber cast
39 × 91.5 × 35.3 cm
15 3/8 × 36 × 14 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Candle, 1986

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Candle, 1987
Black rubber cast
27 × 15.5 cm
10 5/8 × 6 1/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Record, 1988

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Record, 1988
Black rubber cast
30 × 30 × 0.3 cm
11 7/8 × 11 7/8 × 1/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Dog Dish, 2012

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Dog Dish, 2012
Unfired clay
Sculpture: 8 × 23.5 × 23.5 cm
3 1/8 × 9 1/4 × 9 1/4 inches
Plinth: 35 × 35 × 85 cm
13 7/8 × 13 7/8 × 31 1/2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Brick, 2005

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Brick, 2005
Unfired Clay
23 × 11 × 6 cm
9 × 4 1/4 × 2 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Modern Housing Development, 1984

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Modern Housing Development, 1984
Unfired Clay
8 × 32 × 22 cm
3 1/8 × 12 5/8 × 8 5/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
Radio, 1993/2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Radio, 1993/2019
Radio, sound
10 × 25 × 5 cm
4 × 9 7/8 × 2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin
Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS, 2019

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS, 2019
Inkjet Print, cardboard
42 × 59.4 cm
16 1/2 × 23 3/8 inches

Details
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Haus, 1987
Wood, acrylic, aluminum, safety glass, and paint
350 × 570 × 410 cm
137 7/8 × 224 3/8 × 161 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Haus, 1987
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Stool, 1987
Black rubber cast
55 × 55 × 39 cm
21 5/8 × 21 5/8 × 15 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Stool, 1987
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Corner, 2012
Black rubber cast
Sculpture: 55 × 24.5 × 25 cm
21 5/8 × 9 5/8 × 9 7/8 inches
Plinth: 33 × 33 × 80 cm
13 × 13 × 31 1/2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Corner, 2012
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Wall, 1986
Black rubber cast
39 × 91.5 × 35.3 cm
15 3/8 × 36 × 14 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Wall, 1986
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Candle, 1987
Black rubber cast
27 × 15.5 cm
10 5/8 × 6 1/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Candle, 1986
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Record, 1988
Black rubber cast
30 × 30 × 0.3 cm
11 7/8 × 11 7/8 × 1/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Record, 1988
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Dog Dish, 2012
Unfired clay
Sculpture: 8 × 23.5 × 23.5 cm
3 1/8 × 9 1/4 × 9 1/4 inches
Plinth: 35 × 35 × 85 cm
13 7/8 × 13 7/8 × 31 1/2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Dog Dish, 2012
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Brick, 2005
Unfired Clay
23 × 11 × 6 cm
9 × 4 1/4 × 2 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Brick, 2005
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Modern Housing Development, 1984
Unfired Clay
8 × 32 × 22 cm
3 1/8 × 12 5/8 × 8 5/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Modern Housing Development, 1984
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Radio, 1993/2019
Radio, sound
10 × 25 × 5 cm
4 × 9 7/8 × 2 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
Radio, 1993/2019
Peter Fischli David Weiss – HAUS – Berlin

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS, 2019
Inkjet Print, cardboard
42 × 59.4 cm
16 1/2 × 23 3/8 inches

Peter Fischli David Weiss
HAUS, 2019
Details
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Selected Press

Peter Fischli, David Weiss, Haus
Domus, article by Stanislaus von Moos, September 2020

Home Truths
Art Monthly, essay by Mark Prince, September 2019

Allein ist immer auch zu zweit
Die Welt, article by Gesine Borcherdt, April 27, 2019

Kunst für alle die sich nicht fürchten
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, article by Rose-Maria Gropp, April 27, 2019

Die Highlights des Berliner Gallery Weekend 2019
Vogue, preview by Lola Fröbe, April 25, 2019

9 Exhibitions You Won’t Want to Miss In Berlin This Spring
Artnet News, article by Katie Withe, April 24, 2019

Klein gemacht
Tagesspiegel, article by Dorothea Zwirner, July 16, 2018