Experience the Fable and Form Exhibition at von Bartha Basel

Fable and Form brings together the work of Barry Flanagan and Ursula Reuter Christiansen in an imaginative dialogue exploring narrative and mythical themes. The exhibition showcases how both artists populate their works with evocative, sometimes wild protagonists, creating a space where sculpture and painting interact through shared storytelling.

Fable and Form highlights the conceptual and thematic overlaps between Barry Flanagan (1941–2009) and Ursula Reuter Christiansen (b. 1943), despite the two artists never having crossed paths during their lifetimes. The exhibition invites visitors to discover connections between Flanagan’s iconic bronze hares—which often display movement and personality—and the haunting, detail-oriented worlds found in Reuter Christiansen’s paintings and early drawings. By placing these works in proximity, the curation encourages an interpretation of art as a shared realm of fable and myth. The installation is divided into distinct sections that guide the visitor through various scales and mediums, from Reuter Christiansen’s large-scale canvases like 'The Reservoir of Evil' to Flanagan’s diverse sculptural experiments, such as his plaster and cloth works. By juxtaposing these pieces, the exhibition creates a narrative interplay that challenges the viewer to engage with the works through their own imagination, emphasizing the power of storytelling and character within the visual arts.