Biography of Urs Fischer
Often exploring visual genres in art history such as portraiture, still life, and landscape, Urs Fischer’s artworks can be subversive, playful, whilst also questioning the experiential function of art. He is perhaps most interested in materials, and the spontaneous act of creation when that first, initial decision to produce art is made.
Hugely popular around the world, Urs Fischer’s collages, sculptures, editions, installations, and assemblages can be made from wood, clay, wax, glass, and found objects. Despite on the surface appearing lightweight and accessible, a deeper exploration into his work reveals the conceptual sophistication. One of his most lauded works is Untitled (Bread House), 2005 which was a Swiss style chalet house constructed entirely out of loaves of bread. The structure gave off a pleasant bread smell, but at the same time its ramshackle construction induced a palpable sense of fear. Underlying the work was an unsettling comment about consumption and hospitality.
Surprising and witty, what becomes clear is the impermanence of much of his work. The bread will rot, the wax candle figurine he made of himself will melt, so that it becomes a haunting comment on the passage of time. Unremittingly inventive, he mines the possibilities of a material to continually introduce extra facets to his work. Born in 1973, to two doctors based in Zurich, Switzerland, Urs Fischer studied at the Schule für Gestaltung in Zurich.
The artwork of Urs Fischer has been included in the Venice Biennale in 2003, 2007 as well as in 2011. He has had numerous international solo exhibitions around the world, most notable at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam in 2000 with the exhibition entitled “The Membrane—and why I don’t mind bad-mooded People” and at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris in 2004 with an exhibition entitled “Not My House Not My Fire”.
