Inside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334
Elmgreen & Dragset
Elmgreen & DragsetInside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334, 2003
Installation with wax head, metal door with peephole, metal bars, light bulb
Ca. 280 x 121.5 x 80 cm
Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Installation view: Pasajes. Viajes por el híper-espacio. La Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijón, Spain, 2010 | Photo: Marcos Morilla | LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial | © VEGAP, Madrid 2026
Elmgreen & DragsetInside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334, 2003
Installation with wax head, metal door with peephole, metal bars, light bulb
Ca. 280 x 121.5 x 80 cm
Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Installation view: Pasajes. Viajes por el híper-espacio. La Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijón, Spain, 2010
Photo: Reto Guntli | © VEGAP, Madrid 2026
Elmgreen & DragsetInside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334, 2003
Installation with wax head, metal door with peephole, metal bars, light bulb
Ca. 280 x 121.5 x 80 cm
Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
Installation view: Pasajes. Viajes por el híper-espacio. La Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijón, Spain, 2010 | Photo: Marcos Morilla | LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial | © VEGAP, Madrid 2026
- Date
- 2003
- Medium
- Installation with wax head, metal door with peephole, metal bars, light bulb
- Dimension
- Ca. 280 x 121.5 x 80 cm
- Credit
TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection
- This artwork is part of the donation and long-term loan from TBA21 to the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Details
Inside / Powerless Structures is an ongoing series of works, which the artists began in 1997. The sculptural elements induce perceptual disruptions in the “white cube”, hence opening new levels of meanings. Inside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334 questions the terms "inside" and "outside" as absolute categories. An airtight prison door is incorporated into the wall of the exhibition space, through the scarcely lit opening, the visitor is observed by a prisoner – and vice versa. By means of such works, Elmgreen & Dragset pose basic questions regarding reception and acceptance. The installation is also a confirmation of the title of the series: structures without claim to power are vulnerable. Only in a subversive manner are they able to assume a new level of meaning. Powerless Structures is an ongoing series of works, which the artists began in 1997. The sculptural elements induce perceptual disruptions within the “white cube” space, thereby opening new levels of meaning.
Inside / Powerless Structures, Fig. 334 questions the terms "inside" and "outside" as absolute categories. An airtight prison door is incorporated into the wall of the exhibition space and through a scarcely lit opening, the visitor is observed by a prisoner and vice versa. With such works, Elmgreen & Dragset pose fundamental questions regarding reception and acceptance. Furthermore, the installation is a confirmation of the series’ title: structures without claim to power are vulnerable-only in a subversive manner are they able to assume a new level of meaning.