4th Swiss Sculpture Exhibition Biel

Presentation

Introduction

Justus Imfeld

For the fourth time, Biel has the honour of providing an overview of the current state of Swiss

sculpture. To many visitors, the comprehensive quadrennial show has become a matter of course; one can survey the state of sculptural arts in Switzerland at regular intervals; witness

the currents and tendencies that continually change art; follow the artist's rise – and fall. One has grown used to the four-year rhythm at which the focus on sculptural art comes to Biel

where, at a convenient venue, Switzerland presents the way its artists cope with space and matter in these turbulent times.

The Exhibition has become an enterprise. And yet it has remained an adventure.
It was pure adventure when Marcel Joray and a handful of faithful companions created the first show. Never before had Swiss sculpture been brought together; little was known about whether there was such a thing as "Swiss" sculpture; a few artists only were known; and we were almost completely ignorant about trends and movements, about the relationships between this art and the greater and lesser world events. We knew even less about budgets; and least of all did we know what the outcome would be.

Now we know that the exhibition was a success, and that its success has been increasing with each show. We know that there is no such thing as a national style but that our sculpture is a mirror-image of the free world, an art that is at complete liberty to express its subtle responses to world events in a unique idiom of its very own.
We owe this insight to Marcel Joray, who has directed these exhibitions with unstinting energy, coping with countless difficulties, and inspiring the present show with his indestructible optimism. It is his achievement if the name of Biel has come to be inseparably associated with contemporary sculpture – Biel owes him a debt of gratitude.

The adventure of the first exhibition is a thing of the past; the handful of companions has grown into an enterprise – and yet the adventure has remained. What use did the artists make of the past four years? What have they created in their mysterious studios? What ideas, what forms, what dimensions, what materials will predominate in Biel? What will the juxtaposition of time and work look like, where does the future lie? Until the gates to the show open, no predictions can be made, the adventure of the eternally new remains intact.

It took many helping hands to realise this show and I sincerely wish to thank everyone for their contributions to making it possible that so much space can – once again – be given in our city to things useless, playful and beautiful. Most of all I thank -
- the artists who created and submitted their works;
- the municipal authorities who in their generosity have not only made the Kongresshaus and its park available, but also construction machinery, builders, mechanics, workmen and gardeners, as well as funding;
- the cantonal and federal authorities who have provided financial support; the many individual trades people and industrialists, whose generous donations have helped keep the budget in balance;
- the countless voluntary staff members, architects, bankers, artists, construction specialists and journalists; and, finally,
- Biel Tourist Office and its lady secretaries.
Justus Imfeld

© Translation from German, July 2008: Margret Powell-Joss




  • E.12, Duarte Angel, expo 1966
    E.12
  • Formergänzung, Witschi Werner, expo 1966
    Formergänzung
  • Das Loch, Benazzi Raffael, expo 1966
    Das Loch
  • Signal, Fischli Hans, expo 1966
    Signal
  • Tele I, Saegesser Marguerite, expo 1966
    Tele I
  • Polyvolume: interruption semi-développable, Vieira Mara, expo 1966
    Polyvolume: interruption semi-développable
  • Kegelsäule, Distel Herbert, expo 1966
    Kegelsäule
  • Fig. III-65, Zürcher Arnold, expo 1966
    Fig. III-65
  • Stele, Vögeli Walter, expo 1966
    Stele
  • Mécanisme de la Conception, Kemeny Zoltan, expo 1966
    Mécanisme de la Conception
  • Bimbo, Luginbühl Bernhard, expo 1966
    Bimbo
  • Relief: Composition III, Emile Angéloz, expo 1966
    Relief: Composition III
  • Din, Luginbühl Bernhard, expo 1966
    Din
  • Rex, Luginbühl Bernhard, expo 1966
    Rex
  • Mahopac I, Bolomey Roger, expo 1966
    Mahopac I
  • Relief, Vögeli Walter, expo 1966
    Relief
  • Variation, Saegesser Marguerite, expo 1966
    Variation
  • Zwei sind eins, Lienhard Robert, expo 1966
    Zwei sind eins
  • Trilogie, D'Altri Arnold, expo 1966
    Trilogie
  • Tête sur socle, Giacometti Alberto, expo 1966
    Tête sur socle
  • Fig. II-62, Zürcher Arnold, expo 1966
    Fig. II-62
  • Eherne Säule, Mattioli Silvio, expo 1966
    Eherne Säule
  • Trio version 2, Lachat Nicole, expo 1966
    Trio version 2
  • Addio, Somaini Francesco, expo 1966
    Addio
  • Exode II, Studer-Koch Rosa, expo 1966
    Exode II
  • Eisenplastik, Brignoni Serge, expo 1966
    Eisenplastik
  • Torse-Amphore, Arp Jean, expo 1966
    Torse-Amphore
  • Femme-peysage, Arp Jean, expo 1966
    Femme-peysage
  • Kombination IV, Schneider Jimmy Fred, expo 1966
    Kombination IV
  • 38 F, Wiggli Oskar, expo 1966
    38 F
  • 166 M, Gutmann Willi, expo 1966
    166 M
  • Eisenplastik, Brignoni Serge, expo 1966
    Eisenplastik
  • Braut des Hephaistos, Mattioli Silvio, expo 1966
    Braut des Hephaistos
  • Rilièvo, Rossi Remo, expo 1966
    Rilièvo
  • Femme assise, Schwarz Heinz, expo 1966
    Femme assise
  • Polyvolume: colonne multi-développable, Vieira Mara, expo 1966
    Polyvolume: colonne multi-développable
  • Liegende Figur, Suter Paul, expo 1966
    Liegende Figur
  • Endlose Linien auf 5 Ebenen, Witschi Werner, expo 1966
    Endlose Linien auf 5 Ebenen
  • Buste sur socle, Giacometti Alberto, expo 1966
    Buste sur socle
  • Stele, Mattioli Silvio, expo 1966
    Stele
  • Construction I, Frutiger Adrian, expo 1966
    Construction I
  • Lichtskulptur, Bögli Robert, expo 1966
    Lichtskulptur
  • Die Heimatlosen, Stankiewicz Zygmunt, expo 1966
    Die Heimatlosen
  • Raum und Zeit (Entmaterialisierung auf Sprengplastik), Weber Willy, expo 1966
    Raum und Zeit (Entmaterialisierung auf Sprengplastik)
  • Bronzerelief, Suter Paul, expo 1966
    Bronzerelief
  • Konzentration, Witschi Friedrich (Framus), expo 1966
    Konzentration
  • Bronzeschild I, Rehmann Erwin, expo 1966
    Bronzeschild I
  • Figure debout, Mathys Marcel, expo 1966
    Figure debout
  • Sculpture (le rêve), Hächler Peter, expo 1966
    Sculpture (le rêve)
  • 6.6.66, Gigon André, expo 1966
    6.6.66
  • Obliqua, Somaini Francesco, expo 1966
    Obliqua
  • Marmorskulptur, Wyss Josef, expo 1966
    Marmorskulptur
  • Torso eines Kolosses, Weiss Max, expo 1966
    Torso eines Kolosses
  • Esprit synthétique, Kemeny Zoltan, expo 1966
    Esprit synthétique
  • Form III, Perincioli Marcel, expo 1966
    Form III
  • Nébuleuse, Ramseyer André, expo 1966
    Nébuleuse
  • Rotor I, Fivian Bendicht, expo 1966
    Rotor I
  • Aphrodite, Weiss Max, expo 1966
    Aphrodite
  • Eremita, Selmoni Pierino, expo 1966
    Eremita
  • Das Schiff, Küng René, expo 1966
    Das Schiff
  • Zweiteilige Skulptur, Koch Ödon, expo 1966
    Zweiteilige Skulptur
  • Brunnentisch I, Rehmann Erwin, expo 1966
    Brunnentisch I
  • L’Archange, Müller Robert, expo 1966
    L’Archange
  • Kinetische Plastik, Berger Ueli, expo 1966
    Kinetische Plastik
  • Stehende, Weyl Hellen, expo 1966
    Stehende
  • Grande Ferito, Somaini Francesco, expo 1966
    Grande Ferito
  • Roue-Forêt I, Arp Jean, expo 1966
    Roue-Forêt I
  • Die Meinungen, Wagner Hans Ruedi, expo 1966
    Die Meinungen
  • Struttura No 19, Gilardi Bernocco R., expo 1966
    Struttura No 19
  • Man of war, Stieger Jacqueline, expo 1966
    Man of war
  • Etude préliminaire sur le dosage des formes dans l’image faiblement alliée avec l’espace, Kemeny Zoltan, expo 1966
    Etude préliminaire sur le dosage des formes dans l’image faiblement alliée avec l’espace
  • Proue, Ramseyer André, expo 1966
    Proue
  • Strahler, Luginbühl Bernhard, expo 1966
    Strahler
  • Vegetation, D'Altri Arnold, expo 1966
    Vegetation
  • Cubes disposés en arabesques, Reymond Casimir, expo 1966
    Cubes disposés en arabesques
  • Gruppe III, Engler Jakob, expo 1966
    Gruppe III
  • Skulptur I, Grunder Mariann, expo 1966
    Skulptur I
  • Scrutant l’Horizon, Arp Jean, expo 1966
    Scrutant l’Horizon
  • Femme, Giacometti Alberto, expo 1966
    Femme
  • 38 J, Wiggli Oskar, expo 1966
    38 J
  • Symbole, Bianchi Paul, expo 1966
    Symbole
  • Raumgreifend, Engler Jakob, expo 1966
    Raumgreifend
  • Toro I, Fischer Franz, expo 1966
    Toro I
  • Raumknoten, Egloff Anton, expo 1966
    Raumknoten
  • Metallreflief KU II, Staub Josef, expo 1966
    Metallreflief KU II
  • Zeichen, Fischli Hans, expo 1966
    Zeichen
  • Relief, Teucher Otto, expo 1966
    Relief
  • 38 L, Wiggli Oskar, expo 1966
    38 L
  • Rotor II, Fivian Bendicht, expo 1966
    Rotor II
  • Bronzeschild I, Rehmann Erwin, expo 1966
    Bronzeschild I
  • La Mort d’Heraklès, Gisiger Hansjörg, expo 1966
    La Mort d’Heraklès
  • Femme penchée, Braus Hedwig, expo 1966
    Femme penchée
  • 38 E, Wiggli Oskar, expo 1966
    38 E
  • Gruppe, Purtschert Franz, expo 1966
    Gruppe
  • Trio version 3, Lachat Nicole, expo 1966
    Trio version 3
  • 165 M, Gutmann Willi, expo 1966
    165 M
  • L’Orgue, Müller Robert, expo 1966
    L’Orgue
  • Skulptur, Koch Ödon, expo 1966
    Skulptur
  • Figur II, Aeschbacher Hans, expo 1966
    Figur II
  • Grand Astre, Ramseyer André, expo 1966
    Grand Astre
  • Gruppe 1965, Weiss Max, expo 1966
    Gruppe 1965
  • Mutter mit Kind, D'Altri Arnold, expo 1966
    Mutter mit Kind
  • Primavera d’altoforno I, Somaini Francesco, expo 1966
    Primavera d’altoforno I
  • Hydromobile 466, Zeller André-Paul, expo 1966
    Hydromobile 466
  • Buon samaritano, Rossi Remo, expo 1966
    Buon samaritano
  • Komposition, Conne Louis, expo 1966
    Komposition
  • Quader I, Sallenbach Katharina, expo 1966
    Quader I
  • Amazone, Bär Nelly, expo 1966
    Amazone
  • Vie éternelle, D'Altri Arnold, expo 1966
    Vie éternelle
  • Pour un jardin, Affolter André (Condé), expo 1966
    Pour un jardin
  • Verschiebung aus Kugel, Berger Ueli, expo 1966
    Verschiebung aus Kugel
  • Herbstvögel, Germann-Jahn Charlotte, expo 1966
    Herbstvögel
  • Construction II, Frutiger Adrian, expo 1966
    Construction II
  • Farbiges Holzrelief, Bänzinger Ueli, expo 1966
    Farbiges Holzrelief
  • Lichtskulptur, Bögli Robert, expo 1966
    Lichtskulptur
  • Vacca e toro, Rossi Remo, expo 1966
    Vacca e toro
  • Sunbird, Witschi Friedrich (Framus), expo 1966
    Sunbird
  • Torse, Schwarz Heinz, expo 1966
    Torse
  • Nu, Giacometti Alberto, expo 1966
    Nu
  • La Chimère, Affolter André (Condé), expo 1966
    La Chimère
  • Kontraktion, Volz Hermann, expo 1966
    Kontraktion
  • Form mit Loch, Kunz Peter, expo 1966
    Form mit Loch
  • Cerbère, Müller Robert, expo 1966
    Cerbère
  • Grande Racconto Patetico, Somaini Francesco, expo 1966
    Grande Racconto Patetico
  • L’Etoile, Hebeisen Ernst, expo 1966
    L’Etoile
  • Heureuxgraphie, Kemeny Zoltan, expo 1966
    Heureuxgraphie
  • Relief double, Rouiller Albert, expo 1966
    Relief double
  • 1271, Benazzi Raffael, expo 1966
    1271
  • Proportion/Action/Emotion, Kemeny Zoltan, expo 1966
    Proportion/Action/Emotion
  • Concrétion, Perrin Fred, expo 1966
    Concrétion
  • 1275, Benazzi Raffael, expo 1966
    1275
  • Turm, Megert Christian, expo 1966
    Turm
  • E. 2.A., Duarte Angel, expo 1966
    E. 2.A.
  • Orgue atomic, Schüpfer Ernst, expo 1966
    Orgue atomic
  • Entité Ailée, Arp Jean, expo 1966
    Entité Ailée
  • Symbol, Fischli Hans, expo 1966
    Symbol
  • Tilt, Selmoni Pierino, expo 1966
    Tilt
  • Les Grands Mutants, Gigon André, expo 1966
    Les Grands Mutants
  • Skulptur, Koch Ödon, expo 1966
    Skulptur
  • Sterbender Krieger, Probst Jacob, expo 1966
    Sterbender Krieger
  • San Vinoco, Rossi Remo, expo 1966
    San Vinoco