Tony Oursler at The Kunst Museum Winterthur, Beim Stadthaus, Switzerland

1 May 2025

On 23 May, The Kunst Museum Winterthur presents a solo exhibition by Tony Oursler. The exhibition will show all new works by the artist on the subject of the Cardiff Giant, one of the most astonishing scientific forgeries in the history of North American archaeology. In six rooms, Oursler has conceived six completely new installations, including several objects and videos, which successfully created a parable of Western culture today.

The sensational discovery of the primeval giant was reported on in newspapers all over the country. Although the figure was soon revealed to be a fake, the story of the giant generated momentum that even convinced scholars to develop theories about the prehistoric period of the United States based on the hoax. Oursler, researched the story and its context and created a multimedia installation with a combination of historical facts and specially made artifacts in a stage-like space, reminiscent of theater. The installation transports the audience to a fantastical world full of illusionistic tricks. By appropriating the Cardiff Giant, Oursler creates an entertaining and abysmal parable of double standards and the loss of trust in the great Western narrative of science and progress.

Find out more via The Kunst Museum Winterthur.