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




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