Simone Holliger at Kunsthaus Baselland: Expansive Paper Sculptures and Spatial Interventions
Kunsthaus Baselland presents a comprehensive institutional exhibition by award-winning artist Simone Holliger. Known for her large-scale, process-based creations, the Basel-area artist transforms the gallery spaces with towering installations that engage directly with the architecture and atmosphere of the venue.
Running from February 3 through July 9, 2023, this showcase marks Holliger’s largest institutional presentation in Basel to date. Alongside the main exhibition rooms, the artist has also designed the venue's Annual Exterior Project for 2023.
What to Expect from Simone Holliger’s Spatial Installations
Working primarily with stiff paper and hot glue, Holliger constructs monumental sculptures and reliefs directly in situ. Despite their massive scale—spanning several meters in height and width—the works possess a surprising lightness and permeability. Visitors encounter voluminous structures whose vibrant, gestural monochrome colors are determined intuitively during the building process.
Rather than relying on rigid, pre-planned blueprints, Holliger responds dynamically to the architecture of the venue during her preliminary visits. By listening to the textures, temperatures, and physical dimensions of the rooms, she crafts a second skin that alters existing proportions, fills voids, and challenges conventional visual habits.
Media coverage surrounding the opening—including features in outlets such as Programmzeitung and Radio X—has highlighted the immersive nature of these monumental paper structures.
Plan Your Visit
The exhibition is accompanied by a robust public program featuring guided tours, curator-led walks, family Sundays, kids' workshops, and an artist talk with Simone Holliger. An accompanying publication titled Venir en main is also available for visitors wishing to delve deeper into the artist's practice.
To discover more contemporary art venues, upcoming programs, and cultural highlights across the area, explore the city's offerings on Musemap. You can easily browse current exhibitions, find museums and galleries, or use the interactive map view to plan your next cultural outing.
