I AM A VIRUS
in progress © 1963
BIOGRAPHY
FRANZ WASSERMANN, born in 1963, lives and works as a sculptor in Vienna. He is concerned with structures of power in our society and explores the coming and going of power and powerlessness that influences the individual as well as the collective. His performances and sculptures deal with tabooed issues like for example sexual abuse of children (SCARS), National Socialism and culture of remembrance (TEMPORARY MONUMENT), Aids and stigma (BARBIE + KEN = HIV+), migration (ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS), authority and symbolic capital in the cultural sector (ALBERTINA, ICONS) and the power of the media and the image (ACTION CARRIERS, DATA CARRIERS).
Wassermann makes these themes visible in public space and initiates dialogues to which he responds with artistic means so that they become part of his projects. In doing so, the artist cooperates with various partners, including members of the public, associations, activists, companies and experts in a wide range of fields. Wassermann brings the traces of these dialogues into the gallery in the form of objects, video works, photographs and prints, where they are discussed for a second time (more: exhibition views)
photo: Robert Fleischanderl