Both Artschwager and Stadler are known for making objects that dissolve the traditional distinctions between art and design, punctuating space both literally and figuratively. Among the iconic works by Artschwager featured in START! are Apostrophe (1966), Exclamation Point (Wood) (1970), and Leaning Chair (2010), all of which were selected for their engagement with spatial and functional dynamics. Artschwager thrived on crossing boundaries between genres and media, communicating the strangeness of everyday objects while foregrounding the workings of human perception. Significantly, he also applied an artisanal sensibility to synthetic materials such as Formica and Celotex.
Stadler ‘s works echo his predecessor’s innovative manipulation of surface and substance. 3DPD (2022)—the series’ title alludes to traditional pietre dure—is waterjet cut from a spectacular decorative marble called Striato Olimpico. This material is typically used as a veneer, but Stadler intentionally exposes its “wrong” faces—the mineral equivalent of a broadcast breaking down into white noise. Return of the Thing (2021) appears to be carved from wood but is actually made using hydrographic printing; Fantom Light (2022) features real stone inlay alongside a textile digitally printed with a faux marble pattern, echoing Artschwager’s frequent use of Formica. As Stadler puts it, “Today, thanks to the multitude of available production technologies, objects can take on any shape and any appearance. The real and the fake, the natural and the artificial, blend into each other in a previously uninhibited way.”
