Jean Tinguely

The Tinguely Museum, located directly on the Rhine, was designed by the Ticino architect Mario Botta and houses the largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely (1925-1991), one of the most innovative and important Swiss artists of the 20th century.

The permanent exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of four decades of his career. Special exhibitions are hosted regularly and present a wide range of artists and subjects based on Tinguely's ideas.

The Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely was born in Fribourg on 22 May 1925. After going to school in Basle, he began an apprenticeship as a shop-window decorator in a department store in 1940. He then studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Basle from 1941 to 1945, a period during which he discovered the art of Schwitters and Klee as well as becoming an enthusiastic fan of the Bauhaus.

Tinguely began experimenting with movement in space in 1944 with his machine-like sculptures by equipping them with electric motors and making them spin around at high speed. His works conquered the world. Tinguely married the artist Niki de Saint-Phalle, a close friend of his, in 1961.

Basel got a new landmark in 1977 when Jean Tinguely placed some amusing machine sculptures in an enormous pool of water on the site where the stage of the old city theatre was once located and hence the famous Tinguely Fountain.

 The Swiss artist had black asphalt poured into a shallow basin before placing these low power-operated, water-spouting objects in it. These nine iron eminences are in constant motion and “talk” to each other just as did the mimers, actors and dancers who once performed at this very spot. 

As we were visiting Basel in the 20th year of Jean Tinguely's death anniversary; we were lucky to witness the procession of the famous tinguely tractor 'Klamauk'...They took it out on the streets after 20 years; it was last taken out at Jean Tinguely's funeral procession.

Jean Tinguely died in Bern on 20 August 1991.

Artist Profile : Hanspeter Kamm

Say Hello to Hanspeter Kamm;

I recently discovered his work at a top notch gallery in Basel. His work mainly revolves around creation of sculptures using wire...But these colourful artworks make you want to start investing in artworks :-)

Here are some details on the artist and some more of his work;

Hanspeter Kamm was born in 1938 in Winterthur, Switzerland. After his vocational training as a decorator in Zurich, he worked as a graphic designer and opened his own agency.  From 1980 on, he has devoted himself exclusively to his passion: the creation of sculptures made with wire. He is one of very few artists who use wire as the main material of their work. With breathtaking virtuosity, he tangles, intertwines, folds, and eventually binds together pieces of metal. Then, with the help of welding techniques of his own invention, he solidifies the whole structure and manages to literally draw with the metal.

Through their forms and colours these sculptures (which might also be called three-dimensional pictures) express a unique freshness, blended with a touch of subtle humour. 

Like a magician, Hanspeter Kamm follows his thread, like a kind of tightrope walker who has found his balance halfway between the comical and the beautiful. As an inventor of strange flying machines, or unusual bicycles, Kamm has explored the world of journeying. He has a passion for insects, and particularly for their odd little legs. 

He likes to stage social rituals in tiny theaters, in which conformism is purposefully ridiculed. In the process of composing his own visual fables, Kamm also finds inspiration in tales and nursery rhymes. Kamm’s world carries the scent of freedom. Poetry oils the wheels of his dream machines. His wires swing and sway, as does the thread of life. 

See you later with some more interesting features in design...till then Ta..ta..

TATFORM

Hello friends!

Today I want to share with you a yet another lovable store, which we discovered by just wandering around the streets of Basel...

Tatform is a fantastic design studio in Basel, Switzerland...It was founded in 1997 by an artist, Audrey Marti - Pichard..it is located right at the corner of Rosshofgasse, going towards the flea market at Peterplatz...

Audrey Marti - Pichard, works on interesting illustrations, which tell of the moments of life, brought to life with addition of stones in her artworks..big, small both magnificent...her use of stones in her work is unique and special..

My favoutite are the hens; she also does miniatures of the same style on cards... it was truly a happy place to be :-)

Ahhh!! Great work Audrey!!

See you soon guys!!

Butlers!!

Butlers is a cute little colourful shop at the Markplatz in Basel, Switzerland.. They store design products for home, comprising of local as well as international brands..

To find Butlers, refer to the Link for the map..See ya later!!

DESIGN WE LOVE!!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Design Love.
The Blog created for the love of Design..

We are young design struck people...we LOVE design and derive our inspiration from all things beautiful and beautifully functional. We'd love to share this love with you, so here goes...

And here we begin...

nana is a small, beautiful, colourful and a very special store in New Delhi, India...It gives you some heartwarming quilts, cushions, coasters, hot water bottle covers and knick knacks for home...check out the link nana for more...

A little teaser:

Good luck and see you later!!!!