Lawrence Weiner, Wir sind keine Enten auf dem Teich

Lawrence Weiner, Wir sind keine Enten auf dem Teich

Lawrence Weiner wrote Wir sind keine Enten auf dem Teich, wir sind Schiffe auf dem Meer (We are not ducks on a pond, we are ships on the sea) in copper letters on a floating oak sculpture object he anchored on the river Elbe in Hamburg in the late 1980s. This artwork was part of Hamburg’s 1989 public art project, featuring over 50 artists, including Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, and Ernst Mitzka. The phrase, first spoken by Weiner during a 1970s visit to Mitzka near Hamburg, remains open to interpretation – about art, life, or the city’s global harbor identity.

Lawrence Weiner (1942-2021) was a pioneering conceptual artist whose work redefined the boundaries of contemporary art. Born in the Bronx, New York, Weiner is best known for his text-based artworks, where words and language become the central medium. His practice revolved around the idea that the creation of art doesn’t require a physical object; rather, the concept behind the artwork is its true essence. Weiner often presented his artworks in various forms – on walls, in books, or as prints – where language acted as both the material and the message. His conceptual artwork challenged traditional ideas about art ownership, inviting viewers to interact with and interpret the text freely. Many of his pieces exist as instructions that could be carried out by anyone, making the artwork more democratic and accessible. Despite this openness, Lawrence Weiner also produced limited edition prints that allowed collectors to own a physical piece of his conceptual thought. These limited editions often featured his signature use of language, printed in bold and minimalist typography, adding a collectible dimension to his otherwise immaterial practice. Weiner’s influence on contemporary art is profound, blurring the lines between language, sculpture, and painting. His legacy endures through his thought-provoking approach, and his artworks continue to resonate with new generations of artists and thinkers. Whether encountered in galleries, public spaces, or as fine art prints, Weiner’s work invites reflection on the power of words and the role of the viewer in completing the artistic experience. Lawrence Weiner has been the subject of solo exhibitions at important institutions including the Holstebro Kunstmuseum (Denmark, 2021), Kunsthaus Bregenz (Austria, 2016), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam, 2014), Whitney Museum (New York, 2007) and the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, 1994).