Ruedi Bechtler. Zeitreise auf dem Kopf

12.02.–01.05.22
Images

Since the 1960s Ruedi Bechtler (*1942) has been accu­mu­lat­ing a body of work that is uncom­pro­mis­ing in its own way. It includes, among other works, ink draw­ings, pho­tographs, wooden objects, par­tic­i­pa­tory instal­la­tions, foun­tain sculp­tures, light objects, and assem­blages of found objects. Embrac­ing unusual approaches, he retrieves art from the ivory tower and brings it before the people to allows his audi­ence to par­tic­i­pate in the process of creation.

The exhi­bi­tion show­cases Ruedi Bechtler as an artist famil­iar with exper­i­men­tal approaches to art and engaged with cur­rent topics, such as the eco­log­i­cal crisis, but also with the social func­tion of art. As an artist and spon­sor he has been active in insti­tu­tions includ­ing Kun­sthaus Zürich and F+F Schule für Kunst und Design.
The past few years have wit­nessed the orga­ni­za­tion of his archive, which now allows for the first com­pre­hen­sive overview of his work in the exhi­bi­tion and accom­pa­ny­ing book publication.

Ruedi Bechtler, Can, 2005–2006, Installationsansicht Kunsthaus Langenthal Foto: CE, Courtesy of the artist