Fischli/Weiss: Snowman. Artwork by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, in the permanent collection of Fondation Beyeler in Riehen (Basel, Switzerland). Introduction by Sam Keller (Director, Fondation Beyeler). November 27, 2020.
Fischli/Weiss is the collaborative duo of Swiss artists Peter Fischli (born 1952) and David Weiss (1946–2012). They began working together in 1979 and became internationally renowned for their playful, thought-provoking, and often humorous explorations of everyday life, art, and the human condition. Based in Zurich, their work spans multiple mediums, including sculpture, photography, film, and installation.
One of their most famous works is The Way Things Go (1987), a 30-minute film depicting an elaborate chain reaction of ordinary objects—tires, ladders, fire, and liquid—set off in a warehouse. It’s a mesmerizing study of cause and effect, blending absurdity with a kind of mechanical poetry. The piece has been celebrated for its ingenuity and has influenced everything from art education to viral Rube Goldberg-style videos. Their collaboration often blurred the line between high art and the mundane. For example, in Suddenly This Overview (1981–ongoing), they created a series of unfired clay sculptures depicting both historical events and trivial moments—like the invention of the wheel or a sandwich being eaten—leveling grand narratives with the banal. Another notable work, Quiet Afternoon (1984–85), features meticulously balanced sculptures made from household items, capturing a sense of fleeting equilibrium. David Weiss’s death in 2012 ended their partnership, but Peter Fischli has continued to create and exhibit work, often reflecting on their shared legacy. Their art is held in major collections, like MoMA and Tate, and they’re seen as key figures in contemporary art for their ability to find wonder in the ordinary while gently poking at the seriousness of the art world.
Snowman is a lesser-discussed work by Fischli/Weiss, originally created in 1987 as part of a commission for a thermic solar plant in Saarlouis, Germany. The piece consists of an actual snowman—or rather, a frost-covered figure resembling one—kept perpetually frozen inside a refrigerated glass case.
