Mechanics and Humanity:
Eva Aeppli and Jean Tinguely
To the 100th birthday
23 March to 24 August 2025
The Lehmbruck Museum is presenting a comprehensive retrospective that brings together the works of two pioneers of 20th century art. Lehmbruck Prize winner Jean Tinguely (*1925 Freiburg; † 1991 Bern), known for his kinetic sculptures and his innovative use of found materials, meets Eva Aeppli (*1925 Zofingen; † 2015 Honfleur), an artist who is able to capture a touching humanity with her hand-sewn figures.
Eva Aeppli & Jean Tinguely, Samurai an der Öllampe. Komm mit mir in den siebten Himmel der Liebe, 1985-91, © Susanne Gyger, Luzern & VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025, Foto: Jörg von Bruchhausen
The exhibition focuses on the relationship between man and machine, which both artists have characterised in a playful yet critical way. It provides a comprehensive insight into the couple's artistic development: from Tinguely's moving reliefs to Aeppli's still figure groups and their late joint work, which poetically combines the two artists' worlds of ideas.
The exhibition is supported by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR), the Kulturstiftung der Länder, the Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, the duisport – Duisburger Hafen AG and the Duisburger Akzente.
Events around the world to mark Jean Tinguely's 100th birthday can be found on the website tinguely100.com.
