Erwin Wurm's 'Dreamers' at Museo Fortuny, Venice

From May 6 to November 22, 2026, Museo Fortuny in Venice hosts 'Dreamers', a major monographic exhibition dedicated to Austrian artist Erwin Wurm. Curated by Elisabetta Barisoni and Cristina Da Roit, the show presents an immersive journey through Wurm's key research lines, known for redefining sculpture. Central to the exhibition are the iconic 'One Minute Sculptures' (1996–97), where visitors follow simple instructions to become living, temporary sculptures using everyday objects. The 'Dreamers' series introduces oversized pillows supported by human limbs, creating unstable, paradoxical figures. The 'Substitutes' series presents empty garments as sculptures of absence, engaging in dialogue with Mariano Fortuny's Delphos dress. Wurm's use of Polaroid creates what he calls 'taxidermy of the instant'. The exhibition activates a dialogue between eras within Palazzo Fortuny, transforming the museum into a living organism. Wurm's humor exposes contradictions of capitalism and social pressures, inviting visitors to question identity as a fragile construction.