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Oldenburg emerged as a Pop artist in the early 1960s with his so-called “soft” sculptures of quotidian objects, such as this work. Here he transforms the toilet—a factory-produced, rigid porcelain symbol of modern hygiene—into a hand-sewn, pliable object made of stuffed vinyl.
18 lip 2022 · By placing a toilet on a pedestal, Soft Toilet is an obvious homage to Marcel Duchamp's Fountain (an upturned urinal presented as art in 1917). Like its infamous predecessor, it is a mundane feature of the modern home intended for private use as opposed to aesthetic contemplation.
The soft toilet embodies key characteristics of Pop Art by transforming a commonplace object into an artistic form that is both playful and oversized. This approach reflects the movement's interest in merging high art with everyday consumer items, emphasizing accessibility and humor.
This piece is emblematic of Oldenburg's approach to soft sculptures, where he transforms everyday objects into large, plush forms, challenging traditional notions of art and consumer culture. The soft toilet exemplifies how such art can merge the mundane with the playful, offering commentary on mass production and the role of objects in society.
Because they provide analogies with the human physiognomy and anatomy, one can see Oldenburg’s soft machines as a kind of reformulated figurative sculpture. In their humanization, the soft machines are the opposite of the dehumanized, mechanical figures of Cubist sculpture.
7 maj 2009 · Iconic examples of Oldenburg's early sculpture on view include Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich) (1963), French Fries and Ketchup (1963), and Soft Toilet (1966). A highlight of the exhibition is Oldenburg’s Ice Bag - Scale C (1971), which has undergone extensive conservation work in preparation for this exhibition.
Early soft sculptures include Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich) (1963), French Fries and Ketchup (1963), and Soft Toilet (1966). Monumental Sculptures As he became increasingly immersed in sculpture, Oldenburg expanded the dimensions of his work.
