Find a purpose for the pocket, 1969
Artist multiple. Canvas triangular shaped pocket with Walther's stamped signature and the date sewn on its belt loop, unknown edition size. Remscheid, Germany, Vice-Versand.
14 1/2h x 5 3/4w in (36.83h x 14.61w cm)
FEW001
$ 1,800
Describing his work as “objects to use," this is one of Walther’s participatory fabric objects. Realized only when activated, the loop sewn on the front of this triangular shaped pocket allows it to be worn on a belt. Per its title, the idea of the piece is to find a purpose for the pocket.
There are several versions and sizes of this multiple, some without the signature and date and some with (the versions with the signature and date are earlier), the belt loop is on the back side on some, on the front like this version and absent on others. It is also found with various titles like ‘Find a reason for this pocket’ or ‘Find a purpose for the bag’ and ‘Find a purpose for the pocket.‘
Franz Erhard Walther is an interdisciplinary installation and conceptual German artist known for his fabric objects and activations. In the early 1960s, Walther developed a new concept of sculpture consisting of simple sculptural objects made out of textiles, paper, and steel. Visually linked with Minimalism, these objects were incorporated into “work sets” with the aid of the artist or a viewer's predefined sequences of movements that could be performed with them. Walther's aim with this body of work was to create art objects that were free of all meaning. Based as much on conceptual definitions as on formal choices, Walther created an entire vocabulary specific to the fabric objects. They are ‘Werkstücke’ (workpieces) which sounds like
‘Werkzeug’ (tool), just as ‘Werksatz’ (set of works) sounds like ‘Bausatz’ (parts of kit). When in use, they take on
‘Handlungsform’ (action form), joining with the user to form ‘Werkfiguren’ (work figures). Subsequently, they return to their
‘Lagerform’ (storage form), their display state. But even in this state, they await activation, now in the imagination of the viewer, as ‘Werkvorstellung’ (the work’s idea). They possess a potential that can be specifically realized and influenced through use without being exhausted. Walther is quoted as saying, ‘Someone once said they look like sleeping giants.’
