Around the turn of the year, the Fondation Beyeler is presenting, as
far as feasible, its entire collection, including all new acquisitions
made since the inauguration in 1997. The collection is being presented
in a completely new arrangement. Instead of the familiar chronological
sequence, the viewer passes through a number of thematic areas: "Figure/Body", "Portrait", "Interior", "Still
Life", "Nature", "Abstraction" and "Landscape", which provide surprising
confrontations that enable an entirely new perception of the collection.
In addition, the presentation is centered around about 56 works by two
pioneers of geometric abstraction: Piet Mondrian, whose works in the
collection are supplemented by loans; and Kasimir Malevich, inventor
of the famous "Black Square" of Russian Suprematism. Malevich has never
before put in a guest appearance here, nor is he well represented in
Swiss museums in general. The exhibition traces key steps in the development
of these two great innovators. After being influenced by Cubism, each
arrived at a unique vision of pure abstract art. With Mondrian - intuitive
master of asymmetry and the right angle - and Malevich - mystic of the
image behind the painting - the Fondation brings together what were probably
the most radical attempts in modernism to conceive of the painting as
an absolute quality. |
