Thomas Hirschhorn (born 1957)
Thomas Hirschhorn (born 1957 in Bern) is one of the best-known European artists
of Swiss origin. He lives and works in France. Since the 1980s, initially as a member of the Grapus collective, he has been creating installations in museums and public space, referring to current political or social problems. The materials he uses are easily available: press clippings, adhesive tape, cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, plastic. Many of his works, which are often placed in derelict city districts or suburbs, serve as “monuments” dedicated to the philosophical thought of such figures as Antonio Gramsci, Baruch Spinoza or Gilles Deleuze. Hirschhorn’s works can be found in some of the world’s most prestigious collections, including those of New York’s MoMa, the Walker Art Center and Tate Modern. The artist has garnered many accolades, such as the Marcel Duchamp Prize and the Joseph Beuys Prize, and in 2011 he represented Switzerland at the Venice Biennial. Hirschhorn has also had significant impact on the changing perception concerning sculpture in the public space which, according to the artist, ought to have an impermanent, “poor”, and “journalistic” form while being negotiated with the local communities and serving their interests and needs.
