Nicolas Vionnet

SILENCE
May 21, 2016 – October 8, 2016

Silence is returning for the third time to widmertheodoridis. This succeeded series amazes and irritates in a simple and yet concise way. For the Eschlikon edition Vionnet fell back on his experience with water installations and delights now the garden with a jaunty water feature.

In his works Vionnet excites with witty irritations, which he develops on-site and which he aligns with the surrounding. The subtle interventions always are welcoming the viewer to a dialogue. The wind chimes in the historic gallery space (Silence 2011), the video work with the burning haystack in the hay barn (Silence 2014) and now the water feature in the garden of the gallery (Silence 2016), they all refer to local characteristics and break with preconceived ideas.

Since the beginning of mankind gardens and water fountains have been part of our culture and history. Gardens of paradise, such as Eden, Avalon, Walhalla or Hesperides have always existed–throughout the boundaries of languages and continents–as places of blessed happiness and divine affection. Antic nymphs and water gods as an expression of the principle element of life were included in many gardens as a design element, supplemented with water features, grottos and baths. Following the principle “fill and subdue the earth” gardens (especially the baroque garden) became symbols of absolutism. Trees, bushes and flowers had no right of individual development but rather their fixed place in a reasonable and rigid system.

In this regard Silence is a real ricochet shot. Even if in this case where the garden isn’t baroque there is a sort of order of round and organic forms. However, Silence marches to a different number. Just like the baroque garden, which is a symbol of worldly order, Silence can been seen as a subversive winking protest against that same order. The fountain shoots in irregular intervals cross the garden onto a piece of land instead to the top and back into the water basin.

Nicolas Vionnet lives and works in the Zurich metropolitan area. He has finished his studies at the Academy of Art and Design in Basel. In 2009 he graduated from the Bauhaus-University Weimar with a Master’s degree in Public Art and New Artistic Strategies. Extensive exhibition vita, such as 4th Biennial Aarhus Exhibition in Denmark, Ausstellungsraum Klingental Basel, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Neues Museum Weimar, Galerie Weiertal Winterthur, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien Berlin, Kunsthalle Basel.

Exhibition

May 21 – October 8, 2016

Opening reception:
Saturday, May 21, 2016, 3–8 pm

3 pm
Opening reception

4 pm
Welcome address
Saussages by bucher Schmid
Traditional buns by bakery Bisegger

6 pm
Exhibition tour

Sunday, May 22, 2016, 11 am–4 pm

Long weekend:
Saturday, June 25, 2016, 11 am–9 pm
Sunday, June 26, 2016, 11 am–4 pm

Opening hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2–6 pm
Saturday 11 am–4 pm
and by appointment

#3 KunstKüche:
Friday, July 1, 2016, 7 pm