Giselle's Books

Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle

Curated by Alice Dusapin

13.05 – 12.06.2022
Giselle’s Books · Marseille


On the occasion of the publication of the first monograph on Wolfgang Stoerchle's work written by Alice Dusapin, Giselle's Books presents a selection of his videos accompanied by previously unpublished documents.

Wolfgang Stoerchle (1944-1976) is a particularly influential artistic figure of the early 1970s who left a definite but discreet mark on a generation of Californian artists, notably through the production of videos and performances involving his body as raw material. His life story, as brief as it was eventful, is full of rumors, and his sudden death in 1976 probably further accentuated the myth surrounding him. His entire body of work was completed in eleven years, between 1965 and 1976. Forty-five years after his death, his name is still whispered in the West Coast art world, awaiting wider recognition.

Alice Dusapin has devoted extensive research on his life and work since 2017 and has organized several exhibitions on his work since then: Ampersand (Lisbon) Galerie overduin & co (Los Angeles), Galerie Air de Paris (Paris), Macro (Rome) and Le Crédac (Ivry sur Seine).

The monograph includes interviews with Daniel Lentz, Paul McCarthy, Matt Mullican, David Salle, and Helene Winer, as well as extensive documentation of his videos and performances, rare sculptures and paintings, and installations.

"He stood naked in front of us with eyes closed and tried and failed to get an erection. Such a bad idea and so good." William Wegman

The publication Wolfgang Stoerchle, "Success in Failure" (Daisy Editions, Christophe Daviet-Thery, 2022) was made possible thanks to the support of the CNAP, Terra Foundation for American Art, and Antoine de Galbert.

Giselle’s Books would like to thank Fraeme and Atelier Villeneuve for their technical support.


Conjointement à la sortie de la première monographie consacré au travail de Wolfgang Stoerchle écrite par Alice Dusapin, Giselle’s Books présente une sélection de ses vidéos accompagnés de documents inédits.

Wolfgang Stoerchle (1944-1976) est une figure artistique particulièrement marquante du début des années 70 qui a laissé une empreinte certaine mais discrète sur une génération d’artistes californiens, notamment grâce à la production de vidéos et de performances impliquant son corps comme matière première. L’histoire de sa vie, aussi brève que mouvementée, est chargée de rumeurs, et sa mort brutale en 1976 a probablement accentué davantage le mythe qui l’entoure. L’ensemble de son œuvre a été réalisé en onze ans, entre 1965 et 1976. Quarante-cinq ans après sa mort, son nom est toujours murmuré dans le monde de l’art de la côte ouest américain, dans l’attente d’une plus large reconnaissance.

Alice Dusapin a consacré des recherches approfondies sur sa vie et son oeuvre depuis 2017 et a organisé plusieurs expositions sur son travail depuis: Ampersand (Lisbonne) Galerie overduin & co (Los Angeles), Galerie Air de Paris (Paris), Macro (Rome) et Le Crédac (Ivry sur Seine).

La monographie rassemble des entretiens avec Daniel Lentz, Paul McCarthy, Matt Mullican, David Salle Helene Winer, accompagnés d’une large documentations sur ses vidéos et performances, ainsi que de rares sculptures, peintures et installations.

He stood naked in front of us with eyes closed and tried and failed to get an erection. Such a bad idea and so good.” William Wegman

La réalisation de la publication Wolfgang Stoerchle, "Success in Failure" (Daisy Editions, Christophe Daviet-Thery, 2022) a été rendue possible grâce au soutien du CNAP, Terra Foundation for American Art, et Antoine de Galbert.

Giselle’s Books would like to thank Fraeme and Atelier Villeneuve for their technical support.

Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle. Curated by Alice Dusapin. Exhibition View, Giselle’s Books, Marseille
Wolfgang Stoerchle, Success in Failure, edited by Alice Dusapin (Daisy, Christophe Daviet-Thery, 2022) Interviews with David Salle, Helene Winer, Matt Mullican, Paul McCarthy and Daniel Lentz. Designed by Coline Sunier and Charles Mazé.
Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle. Curated by Alice Dusapin. Exhibition View, Giselle’s Books, Marseille
Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle. Curated by Alice Dusapin. Exhibition View, Giselle’s Books, Marseille
Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle. Curated by Alice Dusapin. Exhibition View, Giselle’s Books, Marseille
Crawling out of cloth, Wolfgang Stoerchle, Video, black and white, sound, 2:09 min., c. 1970-72. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Dodging, Wolfgang Stoerchle, Video, black and white, sound, 3:24 min., c. 1971. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Success in Failure, Wolfgang Stoerchle. Curated by Alice Dusapin. Exhibition View, Giselle’s Books, Marseille
Untitled (Fictional News), Wolfgang Stoerchle, Newspaper print, 43.5 x 56.5 cm, 1970. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Shoe Piece, Wolfgang Stoerchle Video, black and white, sound, 4:32 min., c. 1971. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Shoe Piece, Wolfgang Stoerchle Video, black and white, sound, 4:32 min., c. 1971. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Poster, 43 x 28 cm, for Artists’s Performances, Pomona College Art Gallery, March, 2, 6, 13, 20, 1972. Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Untitled (Mexico drawing), Wolfgang Stoerchle, pen on paper, 28 x 21.5 cm, 1975, Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.
Untitled (Mexico drawing), Wolfgang Stoerchle, pen on paper, 28 x 21.5 cm, 1975, Courtesy Karen Couch Wieder.

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