Based on Brancusi's photographic archives, this publication reflects on the sculptor's influence on Minimalism and installation.
The Brancusi Effect begins with the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi. Cited as one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth century, Brancusi's considerations of the pedestal launched a reorientation of the relationship between object, viewer, and space, influencing Minimalism and the aesthetic of the installation as a whole. Brancusi's work, its modular structure and adaptability, can be seen as a point of departure; the autonomy of artworks abates in favor of a reflection on their historical and institutional positioning. Taking this influence into account, the exhibition and publication collect Brancusi's original photographic documentation. The installation reflects the recent currency of the sculptural within contemporary art while referencing Brancusi's sensibility.
Published following the eponymous exhibition at Kunsthalle Wien, June 12 to September 21, 2014.