Iris Haeussler, a Toronto-based artist and recent immigrant from Germany, has constructed the life of a person seemingly obsessed with sculpture in this small house. On one level, we are confronted with a fictional, psychological narrative of an old man's memories, defined by the history of the early 20th century and set in the unique context of immigration and identity in Toronto. But on the other hand, the house really exists, the sculptures are real, the atmosphere and spaces combine to an unsettlingly detailed reconstruction of the art and artefacts of decades. And in our mind, Wagenbach, the old recluse, becomes present and tangible. One understands why the archivist knocks before she enters.

See the Joseph Wagenbach Foundation, established in 2009 to manage his legacy.

The Legacy of Joseph Wagenbach : Shows
Kunstverein Hamburg, Germany,
Daniel Faria Gallery Toronto, Canada,
ArtLab, University of Western Ontario London, Canada,

Joseph Wagenbach - The Archivist's View

The assessment task fell to Municipal Archives; after constructing a temporary field office in early July 2006, the assessment began immediately but it is expected to be ongoing until the end of 2006...

Joseph Wagenbach - The Curator's View

The House of the Artist. That was it, a single idea of immense proportions. I immediately knew we had to make this happen and that it would be an extremely significant project...

Joseph Wagenbach - The Protagonist's View

Joseph Wagenbach spent his early years helping out on the farm and inn. When both his older brothers died in the war and his father went missing, young Joseph became responsible for the inn, aged 15. However Joseph's father returned in 1946...

Joseph Wagenbach - The Visitor's View

We left the Field Office to walk towards Wagenbach's house, wearing white lab coats. The archivist knocked on the door before turning her key. We squeezed inside. Stale air. Dim light. Shapes formed in corners and shadows I would have never imagined...