SHELLS USED TO BUILD ROADS
POURED UPON SHELLS USED TO PAY THE WAY,
AT THE LEVEL OF THE SEA, 2008

LAWRENCE WEINER
b. 1942 - 2021, United States

SHELLS USED TO BUILD ROADS POURED UPON SHELLS USED TO PAY THE WAY, AT THE LEVEL OF THE SEA, 2008

Language + the materials referred to
Dimensions variable

Collection of The Bass. Purchased through the John and Johanna Bass Acquisition Fund (2018.008.001).

As one of the central figures in the formation of conceptual art in the 1960s, Lawrence Weiner’s practice operates beyond the specificity and constraints of traditional presentation by taking form of typographic texts. Weiner considers language to be a sculptural material, believing a construction of language can function as a sculpture just as adequately as a fabricated object, creating a radical redefinition of the relationship between artist and viewer.

While his works exist only as language and can be displayed in any form, he is closely involved in manifestations, detailing the size of the font, the surface texture and placement of the paint or vinyl letters and indeed often inventing new fonts. Texts appear on walls and windows of galleries and public spaces, as spoken word in audio recordings and video, printed books and posters, cast or carved objects, tattoos, graffiti, lyrics, online, ad infinitum.