Running alongside the contemporary art fair Frieze London, Frieze Masters offers a unique view of the relationship between old and new art. Visitors to Booth B5 at the fair this year will be able to enjoy a new solo presentation of works by Swiss artist Jean Tinguely, staged by Hauser & Wirth. Best known for his kinetic mechanical sculptures, Tinguely鈥檚 (1925 – 1991) work explores the aesthetics of movement and utilses found objects in a witty and whimsical way.
Many important pieces will be on show, including his early masterpiece from 1960, La Tour (Berner Zytglogge). This sculpture references the medieval Zytglogge bell tower in Bern鈥檚 Old City and the movement mimics the functionality of a clock. Exhibited for the first time in public for 16 years, the composition of the work is fun and exudes good humour. Wit and satire are a large part of Tinguely鈥檚 work: the robotic, moving sculptures are a caricature of a utilitarian, mechanical world and he presents the process of creation as a mechanised action, questioning to what end we make art.
Another piece that displays Tinguely鈥檚 trademark wit is 惭茅迟补尘补迟颈肠 (1959 鈥 1960), one of Tinguely’s celebrated and extremely rare drawing machines. These works offer another critque on society and the art world, upending traditional notions of the artist鈥檚 role in creation. Created in Paris as Abstract Expressionism was growing in popularity, this machine allows the operator to produce an abstract drawing automatically. Hauser & Wirth will also present Jean Tinguely鈥檚 collaboration with Yves Klein, La vitesse totale (Bleu affol茅) (1958). The work is a joyous marriage of Klein鈥檚 theories of immateriality and Tinguely鈥檚 drive to imbue sculpture with movement.
Jean Tinguely: Hauser & Wirth, Frieze Masters, 15 – 19 October, Booth B5 Regent鈥檚 Park, London. For more information visit .
Credits
1. Yves Klein / Jean Tinguely, La Vitesse totale (Bleu affol茅), 1958. Courtesy of Hauser & Wirth.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest news in contemporary art and culture.
