Tapisseries nomades
Fondation Toms Pauli –
Collection XXe siècle
Curated by the Fondation Toms Pauli for the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Tapisseries nomades retraces the textile art’s evolution from the 1960s to the 2000s: from classical wall tapestry to textile sculpture and from decoration to installation. The exhibition is made up exclusively of works from the foundation’s 20th century collection.
On display are thirty works, some very large and many recently acquired, representing an all but
unknown facet of the foundation’s collection. They illustrate the innovations of such pioneers of the
tapestry revival as Jean Lurçat, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Jagoda Buić, Olga de Amaral, Elsi Giauque
and Machiko Agano.
From many different countries and backgrounds, these artists have explored fresh creative pathways
in formal, technical and material terms. Transforming the traditional wall mural into a spatial, environmental art, they have all made their contributions to redefining the medium as a major art form.
The exhibition title Tapisseries nomades reminds us of what Le Corbusier had to say in 1960 about the role of the visual arts and tapestry as an intellectual driving force for his urban and architectural projects. There is a reference, too, to the explorations of earlier innovators in Switzerland, Europe, the United States and Japan, who would abandon the wall and create new types of tapestry hanging freely in space.
The Toms Pauli Foundation has been active in Switzerland and abroad since its creation in 2000, participating in international exhibitions of ancient and modern tapestry through loans and research. In recent years, the Foundation’s growing reputation has enabled it to enhance its contemporary collection with numerous reference pieces, acquired thanks to the generosity of artists, collectors and patrons.
