Exhibition 1989

For the second edition of the exhibitions, the Môtiers 89 jury is chaired by Pierre Keller, a member of the Swiss Federal Fine Arts Commission. Thanks to his expertise in contemporary art and his extensive network, a new vision of open-air exhibitions is emerging. Some of the works are now created on site, by renowned Swiss and international artists.

Thanks to Pierre Keller, the likes of Jean Tinguely, Daniel Spoerri, John Armleder, Olivier Mosset, Sylvie Fleury and Niki de Saint Phalle have been invited. The distinctions between sculptors, painters, architects and landscape gardeners became less marked.

‘Môtiers 89’ reflects this evolution. Each artist created a work linked to a specific place along the route, integrating or opposing nature, according to his or her own style and vision. The artists who explored Môtiers were impressed by the beauty of the landscape, the weight of history and the enthusiasm of the local people, who had already actively participated in the 1985 edition.

Jean Tinguely, renowned for his daring art, created a special work for the Salle des Mascarons, but he also went further by offering a superb poster for the 1989 edition of Môtiers. This poster, which forms an integral part of the exhibition, won one of the best Swiss poster awards.

What’s more, during the opening, Jean Tinguely was in a generous mood and took out of his car a stack of silk-screen prints and signed them for the participants, making the poster a unique, living souvenir of the event.