Jean Tinguely

Born 100 years ago, died 33 years ago, Jean Tinguely was a painter that decided flat surfaces were too limited for him after which he became a sculptor and kinetic artist.

In a 30 years marriage and collaboration with Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely attacked the automation and overproduction of material goods and created machines made from scrap iron bars, wheels, metal pipes, and electric motors void of practical function depicting the absurdity of consumerism.

His creations included, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the partially self-destructed “Homage to New York”  and in the desert outside of Las Vegas, the completely self-destructed “Study for an End of the World No. 2”.

Personal experience

Back in 1964, when I was just 16, I visited the Swiss National Exposition in Lausanne where I witnessed Tinguely’s “Heureka” creation for the first time.
Before 1964, Tinguely had been a complete unknown. I didn’t know he existed. But since 1964 he has been on my mind — one of the most inspiring word-users on my journey.

I’m also the proud owner of “Tinguely” by Pontus Hultén, a 400-page biography of Jean Tinguely published by the Centre Georges Pompidou in 1988. Tinguely and Pontus Hultén have a rich history with the Centre Pompidou. Jean Tinguely, the Swiss artist known for his kinetic sculptures, and Pontus Hultén, the first director of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France.

I used to wear Tinguely-designed ties and hung Tinguely posters on my walls including posters Tinguely designed for the Montreux Jazz Festival. Those days are long gone, but Tinguely is with me still today.

Now there’s  a Tinguely museum in Basel, Switzerland, which opened 29 years ago, dedicated exclusively to Jean Tinguely’s works and kinetic art,

If you’re interested in totally unique and playful art forms, then The Tinguely Museum in Basel, Switzerland, is worth a visit without thinking twice: World’s largest collection on kinetic works of Jean Tinguely | Museum Tinguely Basel

Takeaway

Jean Tinguely’s relation to you and words?

“I can assure you once you get rid of the notion of art, you acquire a great many wonderful new freedoms.” – Jean Tinguely