UFO
Erwin Wurm, 2007
Information
Created in 2007, UFO is made of polyester resin, fiberglass, sheet metal, and glass, and strikingly incorporates the authentic roof of a Porsche. Its dimensions (95 × 542 × 279 cm) make it a landmark sculpture on the hotel’s historic terrace.
Artistic Context
The internationally renowned Austrian artist Erwin Wurm (b. 1954, Bruck an der Mur) has expanded the field of sculpture, combining installation, drawing, video, photography, and performative elements. Famous for his experimental “One Minute Sculptures” and “Fat Cars,” Wurm uses biting humor to comment on private car ownership as a societal obsession and status symbol.
In UFO, the artist deconstructs the conventional car design: he distorts it and “melts” it, recreating an alien shape that challenges the viewer to wonder: what is a car without function? Does it remain a symbol, or is it merely an idea?
Placement & Dynamics at The Met
UFO is a defining work in The Met Hotel’s permanent collection, highlighting the hotel’s commitment to contemporary art with museum-level standards and public accessibility. Placed on the outdoor terrace, the sculpture itself functions as an urban design landmark: it invites symbolic dialogue, shapes a distinctive aesthetic experience, and serves as a photo and reference point in the city.
Why it deserves your attention
- Iconic Design: It combines the hierarchical status of a Porsche—a symbol of luxury—with an extreme, surrealistic distortion.
- Thought & Fun: It’s perfectly contradictory. Critical yet friendly, it balances deconstruction with aesthetic enjoyment.
- Iconic Selfie Spot: Thanks to its shape and posture, UFO has already become a viral spot for visitors, influencers, and design lovers.