Untitled, from "The Renaissance Society Photography Portfolio"

About the Photographer

Fischli/Weiss

David Weiss (Swiss (1946-2012) and Peter Fischli (Swiss, b. 1952)

David Weiss met Peter Fischli in 1978 when they formed a short-lived rock band called Migros in the height of the Zurich punk scene. The two formed a close relationship as artistic collaborators creating their first works together in 1979 called Wurstserie or Sausage Series, a series of ten color photographs in which sausages and various everyday objects were used to depict everyday occurrences. This playful use of meats set the tone for the rest of Fischli and Weiss’ work, which is comprised of using multiple medias and artistic styles to explore the banality of everyday life.

Peter Fischli studied at the Accademia di belle arti di Urbino (1975–76) and the Accademia di belle arti di Bologna (1976–77), both in Italy. David Weiss studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, Zurich (1963–64), and the Kunstgewerbeschule Basel (1964–65). Both Fischli and Weiss have had their works shown in numerous exhibitions, individually and collaboratively. Weiss died in 2012 of cancer at the age of 66. Fischli continues to work and create art in Zurich.