Erwin Wurm's Monologue: Via Veneto Sculptures and the 'Fat House'

Austrian artist Erwin Wurm (born July 27, 1954, in Bruck an der Mur) participated in the 'Monologhi al Telefono' series by Donatella Giordano, delivering a monologue from a bar on Via Veneto in Rome. He described his outdoor exhibition featuring fifteen sculptures placed along Via Veneto, including the 'Fat House'—a house that grows, fattens, and becomes absurd, allowing visitors inside to watch a video where the house asks questions about art, sculpture, and architecture. The 'Fat House' reflects consumerism and society. Nearby stands 'Big Mutter,' a four-meter-tall hot water bottle with legs, symbolizing maternal love and protection. Other works include bags with legs (shopping bags or briefcases) that speak of pride, dedication, and consumerism; a boxing glove representing power and struggle; three human figures reassembled from existing sculptures to embody multiple personalities; a boot reflecting Italy; a refrigerator related to daily life; and a sculpture of a dressed man merging human and abstract aspects. The exhibition is set against the ancient Roman walls, which were wrapped by Christo in 1974. Wurm's practice, known for 'One Minute Sculptures' where spectators become temporary living statues, challenges societal conventions through absurd and paradoxical works like obese cars, upside-down houses, and giant cucumber totems.