Jean Tinguely

An overview of the work and life of Jean Tinguely (1925–1991), the Swiss artist who was instrumental in the development of kinetic art. While Tingueley’s mechanical metal sculptures may seem witty and playful, their charming absurdity has a dark side: he contrasts play, pleasure and irony with aggression, self-destruction and a fear of death. It was precisely Tinguely’s ability to meld these polar opposites that make his oeuvre so engaging and compelling. The Stedelijk has a longstanding and dynamic history with the artist. 13 of his works are represented in the collection, including his celebrated drawing machine Métamatic No.10 (1959), the enormous Méta II (1971), graphic work and artist’s books.

Exhibition organised by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in collaboration with Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf.

This exhibition is made possible with generous support of All Art Initiatives B.V., the LUMA Foundation, the Turing Foundation and the Walter A. Bechtler Foundation, Switzerland.