Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger Take Over the Kunsthaus Baselland Exterior Project
For its eighth annual exterior project, Kunsthaus Baselland has turned its large outdoor banner over to the renowned artist duo Gerda Steiner & Jörg Lenzlinger. Running through early April 2022, the prominent year-long commission offers passersby a contemplative and imaginative encounter right on the building's facade.
Experiencing the Annual Exterior Project in Basel
Titled Eine Augenübung zur Freude des Hauses (A Visual Exercise to the Delight of the Kunsthaus), the large-scale work invites viewers to engage in a specific, contemplative task. Visitors are instructed to stand five meters back from the banner and trace a black line entirely with their eyes, keeping their heads completely still.
As the eye moves along the curves of the grand installation, new patterns, thoughts, and associations begin to emerge. Beneath the primary line drawing lies a rich background imagery resembling a meadow piece, centered around the intricate structure of a sunflower seed head. The piece functions as both an artwork and a set of instructions for seeing, thinking, and engaging with our surroundings.
Artistry Rooted in Nature and Renewal
Based nearby in Langenbruck, Steiner and Lenzlinger are celebrated for creating immersive installations that playfully address serious ecological and social themes. For the institution's annual pass design, the duo selected an evocative image of an injured finger accompanied by the phrase Gönn dir eine frische Haut (Treat Yourself to Fresh Skin), drawing attention to themes of healing, renewal, and our relationship with nature amidst challenging global circumstances.
The exterior installation remains accessible 24 hours a day, providing an open-air encounter for anyone visiting the area through all seasons. For more contemporary art spaces and local cultural highlights across the region, explore Musemap, where you can also view current schedules on what's on exhibitions or browse the museums list.
