For the first time, Museum Haus Konstruktiv is opening an exhibition that exclusively presents works on paper from its own collection. Selected printed graphics and drawings will be used to demonstrate this medium’s key role in the work of constructivist-concrete and conceptual artists.

Alongside working in painting and sculpture, most representatives of constructivist-concrete art were also active as graphic designers. Max Bill, Richard Paul Lohse, Karl Gerstner, Gottfried Honegger and Nelly Rudin all had a decisive influence on modern Swiss graphic design and helped it to achieve international renown. Up to now, this printed graphic work has rarely been brought into focus at Haus Konstruktiv. We would like to close this gap with a presentation of selected lithographs, etchings and screen prints by these and other artists, including contemporary ones. In addition, sheets by Ryan Gander and Wade Guyton reveal how, in contemporary art, this traditional medium is experimented with. Besides printed graphics, we present numerous sketches, drafts and drawings, which provide intimate insight into the work process and the artists’ conceptual world.

Seit Beginn seiner künstlerischen Tätigkeit Mitte der 1970er-Jahre ist die Malerei von Markus Weggenmann (*1953) der Suche nach einer zeitgemässen Ungegenständlichkeit verpflichtet: Markus Weggenmanns Interesse gilt stets der Oberfläche. Seine Malerei hat nie zum Ziel, sich im Bild zu verlieren. Stattdessen adressieren die Malereien von Markus Weggenmann die Betrachter*innen als ein autonomes Gegenüber, um sich durch die Begegnung mit den Werken der eigenen Präsenz bewusst zu werden.