Vienna-based sculptor Erwin Wurm has a history of using whatever objects and materials are at hand. In the early days, it was because he couldn’t afford to buy them; his first sculptural works were therefore made of wood, because he lived above a wood shop, and the next batch were made using cans and buckets (because he had moved near a factory that produced them). These images are from his “One Minute Sculptures” series, begun in the late 1990s, in which the works themselves have been created on the spot using whatever objects, participants, and backgrounds were available.

An extra demonstrates the participation sculpture “Schuh ausziehen und ihm eine Weile zuhoeren” (take off shoe and listen to it for a while) at the garden of the Staedel Museum, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 06 May 2014. The series “Wurm: One Minute Sculptures” include painted or written instructions tell the person what they have to do and where for 60 seconds. The exhibition runs from 07 May to 13 July. (Photo by Arne Dedert/EPA)

Austrian artist Erwin Wurm (R) stands next to an extra of his participation sculpture “Hose lueften, Haende hoch” (air out pants, hands high) at the garden of the Staedel Museum, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 06 May 2014. (Photo by Arne Dedert/EPA)

An extra demonstrates the Erwin Wurm's participation sculpture “Wirf dich weg” (throw yourself away) at the garden of the Staedel Museum, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 06 May 2014. (Photo by Arne Dedert/EPA)

A visitor performes during the Erwin Wurm “One Minute Sculpture Exhibition”, at the Staedel Museum on May 6, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)

Staedel director Max Hollein demonstrates Erwin Wurm's participation sculpture “Theory of Painting” as he photographs Hollein in the Staedel Museum, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 06 May 2014. (Photo by Arne Dedert/EPA)

A artist Erwin Wurm at the Staedel Museum on May 6, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)

A visitor performes during the Erwin Wurm “One Minute Sculpture Exhibition”, at the Staedel Museum on May 6, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)

Visitor performes during the Erwin Wurm “One Minute Sculpture Exhibition”, at the Staedel Museum on May 6, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)

A artist Erwin Wurm “One Minute sculpture” the Staedel Museum on May 6, 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)