Body

Body

Franz Erhard Walther
German, born 1939
1967
A set of sewn fabric forms arranged like bedding in a simple wooden cabinet, meant to be picked up, worn, and activated so the viewer’s body completes the work.
You first notice mattress-like rolls and tied off‑white canvas bundles stacked in two open compartments, their straps, seams, and folds suggesting use and bodily engagement.
By turning sewn objects into prompts for movement, Walther shifted sculpture from a static object to a participatory event, helping pave the way for performance and relational art practices.
Medium
Fabric
Dimensions
95 11/16 x 44 1/8" (243 x 112 cm)
Classification
Credit
Scott Burton Fund
Accession
1060.2010.29
Palette
Exhibitions
View on moma.org

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Very Similar

> 65%
Gathering 91%

Gathering

Franz Erhard Walther

1966

Gathering 91% Franz Erhard Walther 1966 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 157 3/16 x 157 3/16" (399.3... German 1060.2010.20
Time    Place    Duration    Direction    Relation 89%

Time Place Duration Direction Relation

Franz Erhard Walther

1969

Time Place Duration Direction Relation 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1969 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture Component: 86 5/8 x 60 5/8"... German 1060.2010.58
Positions 89%

Positions

Franz Erhard Walther

1969

Positions 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1969 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 25 9/16 x 3 15/16 x 25 3/16... German 1060.2010.54
Untitled 89%

Untitled

Franz Erhard Walther

1963

Untitled 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1963 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 41 5/16 x 8 1/4" (105 x 21 cm) German 1060.2010.1
Strike 89%

Strike

Franz Erhard Walther

1967

Strike 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1967 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 336 5/8 x 31 1/2" (855 x 80... German 1060.2010.41
Shortly Before Twilight 89%

Shortly Before Twilight

Franz Erhard Walther

1967

Shortly Before Twilight 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1967 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 17 11/16" (45 cm) High. 9 l... German 1060.2010.32
Three-Dimensional 89%

Three-Dimensional

Franz Erhard Walther

1969

Three-Dimensional 89% Franz Erhard Walther 1969 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 26 3/8 x 24' long (67.1 x 7... German 1060.2010.52
Five 88%

Five

Franz Erhard Walther

1966

Five 88% Franz Erhard Walther 1966 Fabric Sculpture Painting & Sculpture 28 13/16 x 86 3/8" (73.2 x ... German 1060.2010.13