Peter Fischli, b. 1952. David Weiss, b. 1946, d. 2012. The Swiss artists began collaborating in 1979, working with rigid polyurethane foam. More commonly used as building insulation, this material allowed the artists to work on a larger, life-size scale. They depicted objects observed in their daily lives, particularly in their workspace. The duo meticulously carved these objects by hand before carefully appointing them with acrylic paint to closely mimic the original items. While these objects initially appear indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts, clear distinctions—misspellings, omissions, considerable shifts in scale—also surface. Each slight variation evidences the handmade quality of these characteristically machine-made products.

–From the Glenstone Field Guide