Claes Oldenburg Oldenburg’s page
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Soft Toilet

1966

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Claes Oldenburg, Soft Toilet, 1966. Wood, vinyl, kapok fibers, wire, plexiglass on metal stand and painted wood base, 55 1/2 × 28 1/4 × 30 in. (141 × 71.8 × 76.2 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; 50th Anniversary Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Victor W. Ganz 79.83a-b

Hey, look what has happened to this toilet! Claes Oldenburg creates sculptures of familiar objects but changes their material and scale, and suddenly these household fixtures that are used every day by everyone become unusable. This toilet hangs limp and floppy. When Oldenburg made Soft Toilet it shocked viewers who were used to seeing art portray people, animals, and landscapes, but it also communicated the radical idea that art can be anything—even a toilet.

People have lots of reactions to this toilet…Their associations surprise me because a toilet is one of the major sculptural things in the home.

—Claes Oldenburg

MORE WORK BY Claes Oldenburg

4 WORKS

Everyday Object: Remix

What you’ll need

Paper, something to draw with of your choice

Claes Oldenburg is inspired to create his sculptures by observing everyday objects, such as food, tools, and appliances that he sees around the house. He transforms these objects into sculptures by remaking them and changing a detail about them, such as the material or scale.

Choose an everyday object you can see from where you are. Don’t think too hard about it–look around and choose the first thing you can see. It can be anything–scissors, a refrigerator, a toaster. Anything!
Consider what you notice about it exactly as it is. How big is it? What is it made of? What does it do?
Choose an element of this object to transform as part of your sculpture’s design. If you’re stumped, start by thinking about opposites. If it is a small object, think about making it larger. Or, if it is made from a hard material, think about what soft materials you might use. Do whatever you like!
Draw a plan for your proposed sculpture using paper and something to draw with of your choice. If you were going to remake this object as a sculpture, what would you do? What materials would you use? How big would it be? Where would it be installed?

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Claes Oldenburg, Soft Toilet, 1966

Claes Oldenburg Oldenburg’s page Works < >

Soft Toilet

1966

Everyday Object: Remix

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Claes Oldenburg Oldenburg’s page
Works < >