Works from the Willy Michel Collection. Photography Franz Gertsch - Scottish Water Paintings

The Museum Franz Gertsch is showing a selection of contemporary photographs and works on paper from the Willy Michel collection for the first time ever.

Willy Michel started to collect art early on. His interest was first awakened by artists from the end of the 19th century. The concept for his collection became more concrete when he met Franz Gertsch and decided to found a museum for him. Under counsel from the museum’s founding director and the manager of the galerie im park, the decision was made that it would make sense to choose Franz Gertsch’s work both as the starting point and the core for the collection. This being the case, works were considered for the collection which can be posited between the abstract and the figurative, take very conceptual and philosophical approaches, and show a proclivity for meditative work processes.

Landscape photographs, portraits and works dealing with the “all-over” concept correspond with Franz Gertsch’s art in various ways. His usage of photographs as models for the woodcuts and paintings is the reason for the juxtaposition.

The exhibition „Under the Starry Sky“ includes 38 works from 21 artists, among others such important ones as Chuck Close, Andreas Gursky, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Ruff, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Andy Warhol. The second part of the collection’s presentation that will take place in summer 2007 will focus exclusively on painting.

Franz Gertsch, Scottish water paintings

Franz Gertsch went to the Scottish Highlands three times in the 1960s. He produced around 50 water paintings on these trips. Following two stints at the Graphic Collection of the ETH in Zurich and the Museum Kurhaus Kleve, 25 works from the artist’s lesser known early period will now be shown in the Museum Franz Gertsch.

Opening Reception at the Museum Franz Gertsch: Friday February 23rd, 2007 at 6.30pm