"Gurken" (or gherkins), Erwin Wurm

9th art project Salzburg Walk of Modern Art: Erwin Wurm, "Gurken" (or gherkins - 2011) in Furtwänglerpark.

Erwin Wurm's sculpture, "Gurken" (Cucumbers), features several oversized cucumbers seemingly placed at random. The piece makes us smile and think. Wurm plays with everyday objects, questioning their meaning by making them seem unfamiliar.

Five gherkins opposite the Festival Hall

In the heart of Salzburg's historic city center, nestled between the Festspielhaus and the Kollegienkirche in the small Furtwänglerpark, you'll find a surprising work of art: Erwin Wurm's "Cucumbers." At first glance, the piece is striking for its absurdity, but it is typical of Wurm's style: humorous, irritating, and deeply conceptual.

About the artist

Erwin Wurm Born in 1954 in Bruck an der Mur, Austria, Erwin Wurm is an internationally renowned artist known for his unconventional sculptures and performances. His works often straddle the border between sculpture, performance, and photography, characterized by wit, irony, and subversive humor. Wurm often addresses themes such as weight, volume, time, and the absurdity of everyday life. He is known for his "One Minute Sculptures," in which people become living sculptures for a short time, as well as his "Fat Cars" and "Narrow Houses," which address social conventions and consumer behavior.

The idea behind the Walk of Modern Art

Initiated by the Salzburg Foundation, the Walk of Modern Art makes contemporary art accessible to everyone. From 2002 to 2019, international artists such as James Turrell, Marina Abramović, Markus Lüpertz, and Brigitte Kowanz created works in the field of tension between history, urban architecture, and contemporary art.

Practical information

- The artworks of the Walk of Modern Art Salzburg are freely accessible.
- Duration of the Walk of Modern Art Salzburg: approx. 1.5-2 hours
- Guided tours