Peter Fischli and David Weiss: Equilibres

Peter Fischli and David Weiss... Ben Hur (1984-85, gelatin-silver print). From the exhibition Peter Fischli and David Weiss: Equilibres at Matthew Marks Gallery. "...The Equilibres photographs are images of household objects and studio detritus arranged to form tenuously-balanced assemblages, and it is from this moment of passing equilibrium that the series takes its name. The group includes both color and black & white photographs and takes as its subtitle the phrase, 'Balance is most beautiful just before it collapses.' To this end, the emphasis in these works is on the beautiful, playful, transitory arrangement of the objects in space, where chairs and brooms, cheesegraters and wine bottles are choreographed into moments of delicate suspension. The assemblages do not simply look temporary; once photographed, they were disassembled, and today these photographs are the only record of their existence."