Oldenburg and Van Bruggen: The Typewriter Eraser, A Favored Form

Oldenburg and Van Bruggen: The Typewriter Eraser, A Favored FormOldenburg and Van Bruggen: The Typewriter Eraser, A Favored Form celebrates the monumental sculpture, Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, a gift from Norton Trustee Ronnie Heyman and a signature artwork at the Museums entrance. Claes Oldenburg (American, born Sweden, 1929), in partnership with his wife Coosje van Bruggen (American, born Netherlands, 1942 2009), created this work in 1999; but, the subject a typewriter eraser has inspired Oldenburg since the

Oldenburg and Van Bruggen: The Typewriter Eraser, A Favored Form celebrates the monumental sculpture, Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, a gift from Norton Trustee Ronnie Heyman and a signature artwork at the Museum’s entrance. Claes Oldenburg (American, born Sweden, 1929), in partnership with his wife Coosje van Bruggen (American, born Netherlands, 1942-2009), created this work in 1999; but, the subject - a typewriter eraser - has inspired Oldenburg since the late 1960s.

The book features reflections by Heyman as well as Lord Norman Foster, chairman and founder of Foster + Partners, who were integral to the sculpture’s installation at the Norton. It also includes a critical 1975 interview between Oldenburg and Martin Friedman, eminent director of the Walker Art Center, where the typewriter eraser theme is discussed at length. The main essay, authored by Assistant Curator J. Rachel Gustafson, considers the trajectory of the eraser throughout Oldenburg’s career, providing additional context surrounding this curious object from its early origins to the culmination of the five-ton Typewriter Eraser, Scale X and its recent history at the Norton. The richly illustrated essay includes archival photographs, Oldenburg’s exploration of the theme through collage, drawings, and paintings as well as large-scale reproductions of the 18 works on paper and sculptures from the 2019 Norton exhibition which inspired this publication. The book chronicles the visual evolution of a favored form that, according to Oldenburg, is “a presence in itself.”

This publication was made possible by a generous gift from Ronnie F. Heyman.

Authors/Credits:

Reflections by Ronnie F. Heyman and Lord Norman Foster

Interview with Claes Oldenburg and Martin Friedman

Main essay by Assistant Curator J. Rachel Gustafson

Page Count: 70 

Softcover with dust jacket