When lines meet the cathedral:
Brice Marden is back in Basel
1. Brice Marden, Window Study II (for Basle Munster), 1983, Bleistitf, Aquarell und Tinte auf Waben-Karton,
(Honey Comb), 122 x 121.2 cm, Kunstmuseum Basel, Kupferstichkabinett, © 2022, ProLitteris, Zürich
The exhibition of Brice Marden, which is curated by Josef Helfenstein and Olga Osadtschy as an important starting point. First, Brice Marden lived in Basel for a few years in the 70s and 80s, while the Kunstmuseum collection got from the Geschenk der Stiftung für Glasscheiben des Basler Münsters 19 Works in 2004.
All of those work encompass the subject of the first room of the exhibition, his commission for the Basel Munster. At the start of this commission, Marden practice mostly focus on monochrome paintings and drawings, in the tradition of minimalism and hard-edge picture.
When he started out this commission, his started to incorporate more colourful elements in his picture. And, to add some movement, the use of lines (mostly made with primary colours) will help him to start his new practice and to develop his influence of calligraphy.
With implosive works, made with paper, watercolours and even work made with multiple canvases, the oeuvre of this commission is like a puzzle, which the visitor will need to put back in its place, in the Cathedral of Basel (even though, the project was abandoned).
2. Brice Marden, The Muses, Muses Drawing 2 and works from the series "15 x 15", 1991-1993 / 1989-1991 / 2015-2017, Oil on canvas / Tusche und Bleiweiss / Kremer inks on Arches paper, Kunstmuseum Basel - Jonas Hänggi, Daros Collection, Switzerland - Kunstmuseum Basel, Kupferstichkabinett - Collection of the artist - © 2022, ProLitteris, Zürich - Photo = Jonas Hänggi
While the exhibitions make links between paintings, drawings and sketches in the three rooms of the show, most of them come from the Daros Collection (Switzerland) and American private collection. All of those shows the different evolution and series of works, made between his commission (in the early 70s) and 2019.
The focus of his oeuvre will always be lines, gestures, limited colour palette and the body (as the movement which dictates the oeuvre). While most of the works of the exhibition are part of a series of works, the importance of evolution, discovery and rhythm question the sens of his oeuvre, from the order of apparitions of his series, his evolution by the use of simple materials to a full series of monochrome.
3. Brice Marden, Muses Drawing 2, 1989 - 1991, Tusche und Bleiweiss, 66 x 103,2 cm,
Kunstmuseum Basel, Kupferstichkabinett, © 2022, ProLitteris, Zürich
While his drawings will always be at the center of his oeuvre, this medium, generally ranked below painting in the hierarchy of media will be appreciated fully by Marden. With his own spirit, Marden continue his exploration of links, by creating works on paper with reflect a finish painting, such as the one at the top.
By presenting this works, face to face, side to side, making them shine and reflecting their links, the exhibition is like a road map, between his studio and his final work. Always exploring, even thought the commission of the Basel Cathedral failed, the exploration of calligraphy and the use of a new aesthetic language will redefined the Marden, we know, today.
A presentation of the collection of the Department of Prints and Drawings titled "Variation in Print - American Graphic Art" is shown in the HAUPTBAU until the 28.08.2022.
The exhibition "Brice Marden - Inner Space" is an extended version of the exhibition "Think of Them as Spaces: Brice Marden’s Drawings", curated by Kelly Montana at the Menil Collection (USA).
Informations about the exhibition
Place: Kunstmuseum Basel | Neubau
Date: 14.5.2022 – 28.8.2022
Curator: Josef Helfenstein and Olga Osadtschy
Ticket: Available on the website of the Kunstmuseum Basel OR at the front desk of the museum
Informations about the Kunstmuseum Basel
Kunstmuseum Basel
St. Alban-Graben 8
CH-4010 Basel
Phone: +41 61 206 62 62
Fax: +41 61 206 62 52
Mail: info@kunstmuseumbasel.ch
© Lucas GASGAR / Lucas Art Talks 2022
