PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISSUE IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ONLY!
ANY PRODUCT ORDERED FROM THIS ISSUE WILL NOT BE DISPATCHED UNTIL THE OFFICIAL ISSUE DATE 4TH SEPTEMBER!
Art in motion
Jean Tinguely (1925–1991) would have cele- brated his 100th birthday in 2025. His most significant legacy is still in motion − including the Carnival Fountain in Basel, which is celebrated on this stamp design.
The Carnival Fountain in Basel features ten dancing figures and is typical of Jean Tinguely’s creations: his works regularly engage with ideas such as function, movement and the noises made by machines. The world’s largest collection of his works is on dis- play in the Tinguely Museum also in Basel, the city where hegrew up. In this interview, the museum’s director Roland Wetzel discusses the legacy of this important Swiss artist and why it is still relevant today.
Mr Wetzel, how would you describe Tinguely’s personality?
Tinguely was a gifted networker with a large circle of friends. He greatly enjoyed collaborating, experimenting and pushing boundaries when creating art and exhibitions. Thanks to his kinetic works, this brilliant Swiss artist is one of the most important innovators in the post 1950 international art world.
What does kinetic art mean?
Jean Tinguely is considered one of the trailblazers of kinetic art in other words, art that incorporates movement as one of its central components. He was interested how machines worked, moved and sounded, as well as their intrinsic poetry. Many of his machine sculptures are powered by a motor and can be activated by visitors at the touch of a button. As such, his works stand in contrast to traditional works of art, which are usually static. Tinguely wanted his machines to encourage people to reflect on industrialization and the role of technology in modern society. What’s more, his art is often ironic and humor- ous, questioning the mechanical perfection of the machines and incorporating chance as part of the artistic process.
What is it like exhibiting motion-based works in a museum?
Our collection comprises around 130 sculptures that can be experienced interactively. Conserving these works is a major challenge, and keeping them mobile is one of the restoration department’s key concerns. The complexity of this task is demonstrated by the fact that there is no universal conservation strategy each work requires careful observation, documen- tation and individual, long range planning. To highlight this important role in caring for and preserving Tinguely’s work, our conservation department has opened its exhibition studio to the public and is giving visitors an insight into its work.
How has Tinguely influenced Swiss art history?
Tinguely produced a highly creative body of work over four decades and reinvented himself time and again. Using radical and innovative approaches such as the Méta Matic drawing machine, Tinguely questioned the traditional relationship between artists, the works they create and their viewers. The destruction of his piece Homage to New York, which he staged in the Museum of Modern Art’s Sculpture Garden in 1960, also had a major impact. It boosted Tinguely’s profile in the United States overnight, giving him a prominent place in art history.
What is the significance of his artistic legacy in today’s art world?
I regard Tinguely as one of the most important artists of his time, whose work still influences young artists both locally and internationally. The exceptional quality of his work is reflected in its accessibility to all people. Tinguely’s central themes, such as the relationship between humans and machines, temporality, the factor of chance, play, sensuality, consumer criticism, life and death, are still topical and relevant today.
What are your wishes for Tinguely’s 100th birthday?
The Tinguely Museum wishes for his work to continue inspiring contemporary artists and enabling people of all ages to access art in a fun way.
