Peter Wüthrich
For almost 30 years, Peter Wüthrich's artistic work has revolved around books.
His studio is like a library where books are collected, stacked and sorted.
Peter Wüthrich sees books as people, which they ultimately are. The book bundles in itself human knowledge, insights, reflections, dreams, longings, feelings and fears.
To read a book is to immerse oneself in the author's world.
Thus, the book is a mediator between the author and us, the reader.
It is a mediator between the real and the imaginary.
The whole dimension of the power of imagination is of great importance to Peter Wüthrich.
Thus, to imagine means to conceive and to create. And this unique power makes human beings what they are: creative beings who can create themselves and their world anew.
A book is therefore always a "creation of a world". For Peter Wüthrich it makes no difference whether it is trivial literature or world classics. The ability to create worlds and realities comes to full fruition in every book. Hence Peter Wüthrich works with books of the most varied 'couleurs' in order to reflect the diversity and colourfullness of human existence and life - profound, philosophical, banal, emotional, theoretical, funny, dramatic, sprawling, succinct, sensual, etc. - in every book.
ARTWORKS
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
twobooks 2019-22
2 books each fixed together
ca 30.0 x 25.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Portraits 2017-22
Drawings, mixed media
53.0 x 44.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Cactus succulentus, literally 2016
Books and shelf
160.0 x 50.0 x 43.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Bar, 2016
Bookcovers on bottles, fluid, shelf
30.0 x 200.0 x 15.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Pharmacie littéraire, 2017
Booktitles, bottles, tablets and fluids
50.0 x 70.0 x 20.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Literary Pharmacy, 2022
Display case, vials with various contents and book page labels
59.0 x 95.0 x 18.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Shortstories I, 2006
Various printing techniques together on handmade paper
Copyright the artist
Shortstories II, 2006
Various printing techniques together on handmade paper
Copyright the artist
Literary Smoke, 2016
Book cover on cigarette pack
25.0 x 25.0 x 4.0 cm
Copyright the artist
Photos by Patrik Graf & Artist
EXHIBITIONS
Peter Wüthrich
Shortstories and Twobooks
23rd May to 1st July, 2023
Peter Wüthrich
Echo der Welt
18th October - 1st December 2018
Summer Exhibition
Group Show
7th July - 8th September 2018
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Bern, 1962
Lives and works in Interlaken and Oberdiessbach.
1980-85 Schule für Gestaltung, HKB, Bern
Grants and Awards
1990-98 several Grants and Awards like the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Grant by the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg and the Country of Nordrhein-Westfalen; the Schloss Balmoral Grant in Koblenz or the Louise Aeschlimann-Corti Grant from Bern. Since 1992 he realized various public artworks like in 2006 for the new Palais de la Justice in Strasbourg or 2012 for the new Building of the German Government (Deutscher Bundestag) in Berlin.
The Angels of the World
Since 1999, he is working on the ongoing public project „The Angels of the World“, which is realized till today in the following cities: Los Angeles, Santiago de Compostela, Milano, Mexico City, Madrid, London, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Paris, Venice, Biel/Bienne, Sao Paulo, Santos, Thessaloniki, Lyon, Monaco, Yerewan, Giumry and Mumbai.
Works in Public Collections
FRAC Alsace, Sélestat, Sélestat; Fondation pour l’art contemporain Salomon, Annecy; Espace d’art contemporain HEC, Paris; Collection Croix Rouge, Monaco; BSI, Banca della Svizzera italiana, Monaco
Kunsthalle & Kunstverein Bremerhaven; Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg; Suermondt-Ludwig Museum, Aachen; Ursula Blickle Stiftung, Karlsruhe; Skulpturenmuseum Glaskasten, Marl; Kunstsammlung des Deutschen Bundestages, Berlin; Städtisches Museum, Jena; OK Center for contemporary Art, Linz;
MART, Museo d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto; ASSAB ONE, Milano;
State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki; CGAC Centro Galego de Arte Contemporanea, Santiago de Compostela; Fundacion Beulas, Huesca; Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico City; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry;
UMCA University Museum of Contemporary Art, Massachusetts, Amherst; Magazzino Italian Art, Nancy & Giorgio Spanu Fondation, Garrison/NY; Fondation Jan Michalski, Montricher; Kunstsammlung Klinik Hirslanden, Zürich; Kunstsammlung Schweizerische Mobiliar, Bern; Kunst Zeug Haus, Rapperswil-Jona;
Graphische Sammlung, Nationalbibliothek, Bern; Kunstmuseum, Thun; Kunstmuseum, Solothurn;
Kunstsammlung des Kantons Bern
Solo Exhibitions (Selection)
2024 «40 Jahre Galerie Gisele Linder», Basel
2024 «Literary Paintings2, Galerie Christian Stein, Milano
2023 «Konkrete Buchologie», Multiple Art, Zürich
2023 «les mots et les choses», Galerie Kewenig, Berlin
2023 «shortstories & twobooks» Boutwell Schabrowsky Galerie, München
2023 “Guten morgen Mr. Bloom”, Galerie Vincenz Sala, Berlin
2022 „Zeile um Zeile“, Galerie Bernhard Bischoff, Bern
2022 KMD, Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp, Cully
2021 Noire Galerie, Turin *
2021 Kunstraum Satellit, Thun
2021 Galerie Gisèle Linder, Basel
2020 DIP Contemporary, Lugano
2020 Galerie Bernhard Bischoff, Bern
2020 Videokunst Progr, Bern
2019 Helvetia Art Foyer, Basel
2019 Galerie Christian Stein, Milano
2019 Plutschow Gallery, Zürich
2019 Fondation Coelho, Geneve
2018 Susan Boutwell Galerie, München
2018 Laure Genillard Galerie, London
2017 Galerie Gisèle Linder, Basel
2017 Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim
2017 La Chartreuse de la Lance, Concise
2017 Galerie Bernhard Bischoff, Bern
2016 Galleria Cardi, Milano
2016 Atelier Les Copains, Milano
2015 Laure Genillard Gallery, London
2015 Plutschow Gallery, Zürich
2015 Galerie Vincenz Sala, Paris
2014 Galerie Gisèle Linder, Basel
2014 Galleria Christian Stein, Milano
2013 Galerie Vincenz Sala, Paris/Berlin
2013 Laure Genillard Gallery, London *
2012 Galeria Jule Kewenig, Palma de Mallorca *
2012 Kunsthalle Mannheim, Mannheim
2012 Espace d’art contemporain HEC, Paris *
2011 Galerie Alice Pauli, Lausanne
2011 St.Peter&Paul Projects, Bern
2010 Espace d’art contemporain HEC, Paris *
2010 Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim
2010 Galerie Annex, Bern
2009 Galleria Cardi, Pietrasanta
2009 Galleria Christian Stein, Milano *
2009 Galleria Cardi, Milano
2009 Galerie Jorge Alyskewycz, Paris *
2009 Assab One, Milano *
2008 Galleria Fumagalli, Bergamo
2008 Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim
2007 UMCA, University Museum of Contemporary Art, Massachusetts, Amherst
2007 Ham Gallery, Nagoya
2007 Laure Genillard Gallery, London
2006 ACE Gallery, Los Angeles
2006 Fondation pour l’art contemporain Salomon, Annecy
Group Exhibitions (Selection)
2023 “Weltwissen”, Hans Erni Museum, Luzern
2023 „De/Cipher”, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
2023 «Bibliomania», Städtische Galerie Bietigheim
2023 «30 years CGAC», Centro Galego de Arte Contemporanea, Santiago de Compostela
2023 “The Angels of the World”, Stadtkirche Thun
2023 “On Paper”, Galerie Bernhard Bischoff, Bern
2022 “Bibliomania”, Kunstmuseum Villa Zanders, Bergisch Gladbach *
2022 «Contaminazione», Florenz Biennale/Area Theater, Florenz
2022 “Caminos I”, CGAC, Centro Galego de Arte Contemporanea, Santiago de Compostela *
2021 „Collezione Ghigi”, Museo Licini, Ascoli Piceno
2021 „sistema-dematerializzione-testo“,Galleria Fumagali, Milano
2020 „ContaminazioTorinone“, OGR, Turin
2020 “Auf ins Wolkenkuckucksheim”, OK, Offenes Kulturhaus, Linz *
2019 „Der Traum der Bibliothek“, Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Siegen
2019 “Monochrom”, Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim
2019 „Imago-Carl Spitteler”, Kunsthalle Palazzo, Liestal
2018 “Aufzeichnen”, Galerie Vincenz Sala, Berlin
2018 „Anders“, Kunstverein, Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven
2018 „Many roads“, Museo de Arte Contemporanea de Castilla y Leon
2018 Plutschow Gallery, Pontresia/St Moritz
2018 “Bocconi”, Bocconi Art Gallery, Milano
2018 “Cottidiana”, KunstZeugHaus, Rapperswil-Jona
2018 “Muchos Caminos”, Real Academia de Espana, Roma
2018 “Buchwelten”, Museum Sinclair-Haus, Bad Homburg*
2018 “Enchanter le reel”, BO, Le Bel Ordinaire, Billère
2018 “Jeunes Pousses”, Chateau de Vuillierens
2016 „Alrededor de una pasion“, Fundacion e Coleccion, RAC, Huarte
2016 „Sammlung Opitz-Hoffmann“, Städtisches Museum, Jena *
2016 „Höhenrausch 16-Andere Engel“, OK Center for contemporary Art, Linz *
2016 „Mixografia-Paper in Profile“, Georgia Museum of Art, Georgia *
2015 „Dickicht“,Kunsthalle Palazzo, Liestal *
2015 „Art Container“, Steffisburg *
2014 „Abre Alas“,A Gentil Carioca,Rio de Janeiro *
2014 „Index 4“, Galeria Hilario Galguera, Mexico City
2014 „20/200“Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney *
2014 „The way things go“, Oratorio Mercurio, Palermo
2014 „Paper i Cartro“, Galeria Kewenig, Palma *
2013 „Book Machine“, Centre Pompidou, Paris
2013 „Interno al libro“, Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milano *
2013 „Aus der Sammlung“, Kunstmuseum Solothurn
2013 „4th Biennale Thessaloniki“, State Museum of contemporary Art, Thessaloniki *
2013 „Bookhouse“,MARCA Museo delle Arti Catanzaro*
2013 „Intro“, Oratorio di San Lorenzo, Palermo
2013 „In Series“, Palazzo Mauri, Spoletto *
2013 „Höhenrausch“, OK, Gegenwartskunst, Linz *
2013 „Trait Papier“, Centre d’Art contemporain, Yverdon-les-Bains
2013 „Erasme à son cher Beatus“, Bibliothèque Humaniste, Frac Alsace, Sélestat
2013 „Esprit du Lieu“, Galerie Antichambre, Chambéry
2012 „The mediterranean Approach“, SESC, Pinheiros, Sao Paulo *
2012 „Bücherhimmel“, Museum Strauhof, Zürich
2012 „Stille Zeichen“, Kunstverein Landau *
2012 „Arte svizzera dalla collezione della Mobiliare“, Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Lugano *
2012 „Minimallinie“, Kunsthalle Palazzo Liestal, Basel *
2012 „The mediterranean Approach“, MAC, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Marseille
2011 „The mediterranean Approach“, Palazzo Zenobio, 54th Biennale di Venezia *
2011 „Aftermath“, Chelsea Space, London *
2011 „Viaggiando“ Galleria Christian Stein, Milano
2011 „Doppelgänger“ Künstlerforum Bonn
2011 „Aftermath“ Chelsea Arts Club, London
2010 „Just love me“ Musée d’Art Moderne, Mudam, Luxembourg
2010 „Chromie“ Galerie Gisèle Linder, Basel
2009 „Aequatoria“, Galeria Hilario Galguera, Mexico City
2009 „Cold Press“ Page Bond Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
2009 „Presque Rien“ Laure Genillard Gallery, London
2009 „E altre storie“ Assab One, Milano
2009 „Carte Blanche“ Alessandra Bonomo Galleria, Rom
2009 „Mixografia“ Portland Museum, Portland
2009 „Books, books nothing else than books“ Ursula Blickle Stiftung, Kraichtal/Karlsruhe*
2008 „Book’ish“ Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork
2008 „Von der Kunst Sträusse zu binden“ Kunstmuseum Solothurn *
2008 „The Artists Library“, Centre d’art contemporain, Vassivière
2007 „ Presque Rien I“ Laure Genillard Gallery, London
2007 „Colleccion Josep Civit“ Fundacion Beulas, Huesca
2007 „Rubin“ Neues Museum, Nürnberg *
2007 „Los Barbaros“,Galeria Hilario Galguera,Mexico City
2007 „Cycle“ Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Nagoya *
2007 „Nuovi Spazi“ Galleria Christian Stein, Milano
2007 „Timer 01“, Triennale Bovisa, Milano *
2007 „Ejemplares“ Museo de Estampa, Mexico City
2006 „l’Art en conte“ FRAC Alsace, Sélestat
2006 „Biennale di Scultura“, Museo di Scultura, Carrara
2006 „Des Territoires“ FRAC Alsace, Sélestat
2006 „Letters own a book“ Ham Gallery, Nagoya
2006 „The Galleryshow“ Galleria Pilar Parra, Madrid
*Catalogue