Franz West: Auto-Theater: MADRE | Naples, Italy

Beginning May 15, 2010, the Madre Museum will host AutoTheater , the major European retrospective dedicated to the Austrian sculptor Franz West.
The exhibition, a tribute to the great Viennese artist, brings together over 30 of his most significant works, from the Adaptives ( Passstücke ) and the collages of the 1970s, through his papier-mâché sculptures , furniture, site-specific installations, and his latest works for public spaces.

The title AutoTheater emphasizes the representational and interactive dimension of his work: West's poetics stems from the belief that a work of art has no meaning or function in itself, but represents the origin of reactions and perceptions. In light of this, for the exhibition at Madre, the artist presents a series of works he has "combined" himself according to what he has defined as a "participatory model," encouraging visitors to interact with the works. His works have always been an invitation to dialogue, a combination of two elements: the object itself and the action that follows from its enjoyment.