Why Does Urs Fischer Continue to Melt Himself?
Urs Fischer's solo exhibition "Machigai Sagashi" in Tokyo features melting sculptures and an installation exploring visual discrepancies.Summary
Urs Fischer's solo exhibition "Machigai Sagashi – Spot the Difference" is currently running at Fergus McCaffrey in Tokyo's Minami-Aoyama district from April 11 to July 4. The exhibition is divided between the first floor and the basement, each presenting a distinct concept. On the first floor, a pair of nearly identical sculptures titled "Mirror" are installed in adjacent spaces. Created at a size slightly larger than life, the works were precisely traced by Fischer himself. They are positioned facing each other through random, cut-out-like holes. "Mirror" is part of Fischer's ongoing "Candle Portraits" series; the works were lit on the opening day. Over the course of the three-month exhibition period, each sculpture independently melts, drips, and collapses, allowing wax to accumulate on the floor. At the end of the exhibition, the remaining wax is removed, and the sculptures are cast again from the preserved original mold to return to their complete state before lighting. In the basement, an installation covers the walls with wallpaper that precisely prints traces such as scratches and dirt on the bare concrete floor. By transferring these traces to the wall, a visual correlation is created within the space. Pipes installed in the space are also copied multiple times onto the wall surface, and as the real objects and their images overlap, viewers become aware of the visual discrepancies between them. Additionally, works featuring small sculptures spontaneously formed in clay and cast in colored bronze, as well as playful drawings, are scattered throughout the exhibition. The article concludes with an interview with Fischer, who visited Japan for the exhibition, discussing the displayed works.
(Source：美術手帖)