Talking Points: Claes Oldenburg
How can sculpture change our relationship with everyday objects?
Claes Oldenburg is known for turning everyday objects into large scale, playful sculptures that make us see ordinary things differently. Exploring his imaginative reworkings of familiar items offers insight into his approach to sculpture and Pop Art.
Use the sources provided to investigate Oldenburg’s work, then discuss the questions that follow.
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Claes Oldenburg
The video below shows how Oldenburgs sculpture ‘BLT’ is built and rebuilt for every exhibition.
Watch the video below to find out more about Claes Oldenburgs ‘Store’.
Watch this video of Oldenburg discussing Shoestring Potatoes Spilling From a Bag (1966) on Vimeo here.
Questions to Ask Children
How do his sculptures make you feel?
Which food sculpture is your favourite? Why?
How do you think the sculptures feel?
If you created your own sculpture store, what would be in it?
How would it feel to be in that space, interacting with the sculptures?
What do you think Oldenburg was trying to say through his artwork?
This Talking Points Is Used In...
using sketchbooks to make visual notes
Show me what you see
