Mechanics and Humanity:
On the 100th birthday of Jean Tinguely and Eva Aeppli

23 March to 31 August 2025

Die Lithographie zeigt das "Märchenrelief" von Jean Tinguely.

Jean Tinguely, Das Märchenrelief (The Fairy Tale Relief), 1978, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024, photo: Museum

 
 

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. 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.

Events around the world to mark Jean Tinguely's 100th birthday can be found on the website tinguely100.com.