Exhibition 2003

Since 1985, exhibitions in Môtiers have combined art and nature. The works, often in wood, stone or metal, interacted with the landscape – waterfall, river, forest – but remained studio sculptures.

In 1989 and 1995, artists began to take an interest in local history: absinthe, Rousseau, watchmaking. However, the majority of the works still come from the workshops.

In 2003, the word ‘sculpture’ was replaced by ‘outdoor art’. This edition marks a clear change. The artists were no longer content simply to exhibit: they were questioning the place, its inhabitants, its past, its link to the world.

The approach is becoming almost ethnographic, more conceptual, close to the contemporary proposals of Documenta or the Venice Biennale.

The works are created on site, often in direct contact with local people, their gardens and their shop windows. Art becomes participatory, sometimes disturbing, but above all alive. Môtiers is becoming a veritable artistic laboratory, open to the world.

We entrusted the creation of the poster to John Armleder and Olivier Mosset, two close friends and major figures in contemporary art who have already visited Môtiers twice.

Armleder wanted a satellite photo of the village, while Mosset wanted to use Rousseau’s handwriting.

A quick reminder: Rousseau lived in Môtiers from 1762 to 1765, exiled after the condemnation of The Emile and The Social Contract.