Exhibition 1985

The idea for the exhibition in Môtiers was born in 1973, during a visit to the French Alps. Marie and Pierre-André Delachaux discovered an open-air sculpture exhibition, and the idea was born: why not do the same in their region, the Val-de-Travers, rich in landscape and history?

Twelve years later, in 1985, with the support of the Cultural Centre, they made their dream come true. At a time when the region was experiencing economic difficulties, the objective was clear: to offer a more positive and dynamic image of Val-de-Travers by transforming it into a meeting place for the contemporary Swiss sculpture.

A solid support network was established. The jury, chaired by Claude Loewer, President of the Federal Fine Arts Commission, selected the artists with great rigour. A patronage committee, headed by Federal Councillor Alphons Egli, provided invaluable legitimacy to the project. Local craftsmen play a key role in providing the bases for the sculptures, while the associations, businesses and residents of the valley are enthusiastically involved.

Môtiers 85 was not just an exhibition, but the start of an adventure that transformed the valley into a key venue for contemporary Swiss art for one summer.

Two poster designs have been proposed. The first, created by Yvo Mariotti, a sculptor from Môtis and a member of the committee, stands out for its pictorial and elegant style. It depicts a luminous candle on a black and white grid patterned background, with the word MOTIERS prominently displayed. The second design, by Jean-Denis Zaech, a painter and member of the Riethman graphics studio responsible for the catalogue, features a monumental cross set in the grass. It symbolises both Switzerland and sculpture, with the full title of the exhibition inscribed.

The committee’s choice was not an easy one. After a vote, the Swiss cross won the decision with five male votes against three female votes, who were more sensitive to the aesthetics of the first project. However, Mariotti’s design was not completely discarded, as it appeared on the cover of issue 6 of the Nouvelle Revue neuchâteloise, dedicated to the exhibition logbook.