PRESS RELEASE

einfach tierisch!Animals in Outsider Art

Main exhibition “Einfach tierisch!”

August 12, 2015 - January 31, 2016

Accompanying exhibition Kurt Josef Haas

August 12, 2015 - November 15, 2015

The fifth major exhibition at the Musée Visionnaire shows beastly! works of selected artists of Art Brut/Outsider Art, which deal animals and fantasy creatures of all kinds. The main exhibition is accompanied by two consecutive solo shows with works for sale. From August 12 to 15 November, the fantastic drawings and canvases of the Zurich artist KURT JOSEF HAAS (*1935) will be on display; they will be followed from 19 November, by the philosophical and humorous works of the German artist ALEXANDRA HUBER (* 1955). The proceeds will go to the non-profit association Musée Visionnaire for the realization of future projects. ANIMALS IN THE STORY OF CREATION The animals were created on the sixth day, before the first human beings. Scientifics also agree with the sequence described in the Genesis, as according to the theory of evolution, humans descend from primates, namely animals. Animals play an important role in the history of art. They are represented in the first drawings of the caves of Lascaux (France, approx. between 15000 and 17000 BC.). Today, their original meaning is still discussed. What is for sure is that since the dawn of history, man is in close contact with animals, simultaneously fearing and revering them. The fact that animals follow their own rhythms and

instinctively know where to go or how to anticipate danger, is an inspiration. This vitality is an integral part of our universe and governs everything. And each animated beings differs from all others. These features are deeply rooted in the consciousness of man and clearly appear in his cultural production: for example, in myths, fables and traditional knowledge.Since the 17th century, animals are current subject in two genres of painting: in vanitas still life and in bucolic or landscape painting. The prominent repeated occurrence of the animals in the culture has its source in the fact that after the Enlightenment, people drifted away from nature. The artist, conscious of his environment, holds for humans their place in nature. In the vanitas still life genre, each object is inserted into an image, that reminds man of his transience, whereas the idyllic landscape represents the harmony that should prevail between humans and animals. THE ANIMAL AS A TRIBUTE

The core of the exhibition simply beastly! is composed by the works of an artist who made the mollusks a tribute to nature: Paul AMAR (Algeria, *1919), also called «the mussel Pope». Amar uses Animals in his works in an unique way. Out of them, he creates colorful and luminous works. Amar fell in love with shells when, in 1977, he observed a broken mussel and discovered the architectural marvel hidden in its interior. Since then,

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in his work, he makes the original spiral structure apparent to the viewer, their arabesques reminiscent of his Arab roots.His works are characterized by a profusion and a certain bustle. The observer, fascinated by his sculptures, cannot avert his gaze, eager to capture the many details. With their colors, their light and their grandeur, Amar’s works are similar, in their impact to the viewer, to Les Yaoleds, the corrupt, crazy and violent street children of his hometown, to which the artist dedicates part of his works. DANGER AND RELEASE The Tigers of Pietro GHIZZARDi (Italy, 1906-1986) are real predators, ready to attack. Ghizzardis’ passion to draw began already in the cradle, but his humble origin hindered him to pursue it. He was forced to work in the fields until they were taken away from him. As the only support of his mother, he kept his head above water with odd jobs, punctuated by periods of artistic creation.In our minds, some animals might symbolize freedom: for example, the creatures of André ROBILLARD (France, * 1932). Here, animals produce guns and rockets, in reference to the biography of the artist, who felt imprisoned, as he emphasized it many times. Born in a domestic violent environment, despite his own outbursts, he never wanted to hurt anyone. However, after the divorce from his mother, his father decided to send him to a psychiatric institution. André felt trapped, but fought against this feeling and developed a strong will to win back his freedom. In his works, the wild animals move freely. THE CONTROLLED NATURE Man always tried, to categorize the environment and sometimes the inner world too. But that is not a task for superficial or impatient people, only for committed people such as Gregory BLACKSTOCK (USA, * 1946), who roams the city with his camera and records what obviously enchants him. He decided in his work, for example, to concentrate on wasps, even with the smallest details.Johann FISCHER (Austria, 1919-2008) devoted himself to the introspective documentation. After a life in the countryside, surrounded by animals, only as an adult he began to create when he joined the House of Artists in Gugging (a guest house outside Vienna, for artists of exceptional talent). Basically, he used only white and black, signing his work only with the date of execution; gradually, the writing became an integral part of his paintings.

MIRROR MAN -THE MIRROR IMAGE OF MAN Animals have a strong presence in all cultural works, because they represent complex aspects of man. Animals remind man of his instincts and motives, or

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better said, of his «animal» essence. And this is also told by Iilija BOSILj (Serbia, 1895-1972). The artist began to paint at an advanced age. The stories of his paintings are a reflection of the knowledge enshrined in the country and the people. The stories of Ilija are not easy to define, because they have been constantly reworked. The key to this world, called “Ilijada” by the creator himself, has not yet been found, but the echo of the magic of nature draws us into its spell. All this shows us how strong the relationship between humans and animals is. There are themes that have always been part of everyday life of the people and an immediate source of inspiration. This is also part of the definition of art brut of Jean Dubuffet (France, 1901-1985), as the artists of Art Brut escape from the influence of academic art: «Under Art Brut we understand works that are created by individuals still preserved from an artistic culture, for which the imitation hardly matters - contrary to what is happens among the intellectuals. Consequently, their only source is themselves for everything (motifs, choice of materials, means of implementation, rhythms, personal style, etc.) and not the commonplaces of classical art or current trends. We find here a completely pure and raw artistic activity, which is invented at every stage, entirely new and only based on the artist own impulses. « Jean Dubuffet, 1949 In the works of Outsider Art, the animal is in harmony with man and nature. Even more important, it is also an intercultural symbol, as the ancient echo of the soul of the world attracts all cultures.

TEXT Giulia Ficco (Original: Italian)TRANSLATION TO GERMAN Suzanne Leu, Basel

EXHIBITED ARTISTSPaul AMAR (France), Enrico BENASSI (Italy), Gregory BLACKSTOCK (Texas), Ilija BOSILJ (Serbia), Vittorio CARLESI (Italy), Johann FISCHER (Austria), Johann GARBER (Austria), Pietro GHIZZARDI (Italy), Ognjen “Ogi” JEREMIC (Serbia), Michael NEDJAR (France), Ivan RABUZIN (Croatia), Gérard RIGOT (Frnce), André ROBILLARD (France), Roland ROURE (France), Germain VANDERSTEEN (France)

ACCOMPANYING EXHIBITIONSThe proceeds will go to the non-profit association Musée Visionnaire for the realization of future projects.

Kurt Josef HAAS, Switzerland (12.8.-15.11.15) and Alexandra HUBER, Germany (19.11.-31.1.16)

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