Urs Fischer

Urs Fischer’s ‘Bread House’ took 17 years and 2 500 loaves of bread to construct Image via Twitter @garethharr

Self-raising house? Urs Fischer toasts his 2 500 loaf art piece [photos]

Urs Fischer does not loaf around…The Swiss-born artist has captured the world’s attention with his artwork, titled ‘Bread House’.

Urs Fischer

Urs Fischer’s ‘Bread House’ took 17 years and 2 500 loaves of bread to construct Image via Twitter @garethharr

A quick look at Urs Fischer’s website will show you that the Swiss-born contemporary visual artist has created some phenomenal art pieces over the years, giving a new life to objects like fruits, vegetables, dirt and clay. It’s his piece titled Bread House made from about 2 500 loaves of bread that captured the world’s attention.

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URS FISCHER ‘BREAD HOUSE’

The 48-year-old visual artist began constructing Bread House in 2004 and it reportedly took him 17 years to finish. Urs Fischer used loaves from Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, expandable foam and wood. The floors of the life-sized art piece are lined with rugs and breadcrumbs.

Fischer says he does not have a favourite medium to use in his art.

“My favourite mediums are my life, the world I experience, my mind and my hands. The human brain and the hands must develop simultaneously.”

Bread House was assembled on an outdoor lot and says the process was trial and error. 

URS FISCHER’S BATTLE WITH AUSTRIA

Fisher’s Bread House is 1m2 wide and 1.4m2 long and was first unveiled in Austria. 

According to Expatica, in 2011, 73.6% of the Austrian population was of the Catholic religion. Fischer admits that his life-sized installation sparked controversy in the country but he got a totally different response when he exhibited the piece in New York.

“Everyone [in Austria] thought the bread was somehow the body of Christ.”

Speaking about New York Fischer said: “The discussion there was all about carbohydrates at which point, I gave up with whatever it ‘should’ be about.” 

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‘BREAD HOUSE’ AT ART BASEL IN SWITZERLAND

Bread House has been on show at Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland since 20 September. Art Basel is a platform that connects art patrons and galleries across the world. Fisher’s Bread House will be put in the “Unlimited” section of the event. 

Writer, artist and art dealer Jeffery Deitch says the market for pieces like Bread House is not as strong as it was before. Deitch says the piece will be presented at Art Basel with an asking price of about $3 million (R45 million).