Werner von Mutzenbecher at Kunsthaus Baselland: A Multifaceted Retrospective in Basel
Visitors to Kunsthaus Baselland can explore a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Werner von Mutzenbecher, one of the central figures of the Basel cultural scene since the early 1970s. Spanning over six decades of artistic creation, the showcase highlights an expansive oeuvre that moves fluently across painting, drawing, photography, film, video, and text.
Discovering Six Decades of Artistic Evolution
The exhibition brings together a curated selection of works created from the late 1950s to the present day. Rather than offering a rigid historical retrospective, the display captures the artist's relentless drive to continuously push forward across multiple mediums in parallel. Audiences can trace von Mutzenbecher's progression from early, somber works reflecting postwar experiences—such as his KZ-Bilder and Schlachtenbilder—to the energetic gestural abstraction of his 1960s Action Paintings.
The journey continues through his geometric explorations of the 1970s and 1980s, alongside his dynamic engagement with urban architecture captured via Super 8 and 16 mm films during his travels in Rome, New York, and Chicago. More recent works, including crystalline structures in black and blue that spill beyond the canvas, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to formal experimentation and visual storytelling.
Visitor Information and Context
The presentation is accompanied by the artist's first comprehensive monograph, offering deeper insight into his diverse methods and extensive output. To plan your visit and discover other cultural highlights around the city, explore more options through Musemap, where you can browse museums, check what's on exhibitions, or use the map view to navigate Basel's contemporary art scene.
