Michael Asher's art has been the central thread throughout sculpture projects. This American artist will present his caravan project in 2007 for the fourth time. During the whole period of the exhibit, he will park the caravan, the same model that he used already in 1977, 1987 and 1997, at twelve different locations, changing the site weekly. Asher uses rather unpretentious sites in the Münster scenery, sites that he chose back in 1977. The artist is mostly interested in exploring the area of conflict between rigid form and mobile space: For the past 30 years, the caravan has arrived at evolving locations in the city. The vehicle, itself, has remained the same. Asher's project has been documented in photos since 1977. These excellently show the dramatic transformation of the urban environment over the past 40 years.

1943 in Los Angeles geboren, lebt dort

Titel: Installation Münster

Standort: 19 verschiedene Stellplätze in Münster

Ausführung erfolgte 3. Juli - 14. November 1977

Michael Asher:
Installation Münster, 1977

This has to do with the placement of a caravan in and around the city of Münster for the duration of this exhibition which is 19 weeks. The caravan (approx. 4 m long) is being relocated every Monday in the proximity of buildings and parks, using 19 various locations in all. The information regarding place and time of the caravan can be picked up at the front desk in the museums lobby.

Statement

I intend to first use locations in the area of the museum slowly branching out to suburban areas and planted settings (parks) with the last few weeks comprising again of settings in town. The settings fullfill the structure of the installation. They consist of supposed places where a caravan can stand (be positioned) – without appearing to be in storage or to be functional.

What interests me in the work is the aspect of mobility for a specific unit. The form (caravan) needs the ground to be positioned but not necessarely anchored. Its setting can change throughout the exibition but its physical make up remains the same. In this sense it remains a packaged form and does not necessarely have to change physically while being transported to each location. The transit from one position to the other is also part of the installation.

(Michael Asher, Katalogtext "Skulptur Ausstellung in Münster 1977")