Kunsthaus Zürich shows ‘Rodin’ ~ A Retrospective

Written by Edward Turley Friday, 23 March 2012 22:10

Zurich, Switzerland - In the late 19th century Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) revolutionized sculpture. On exhibition until 13 May 2007,  Kunsthaus Zürich is showing a retrospective comprising almost 160 bronzes, works in plaster, and drawings – including such renowned pieces as ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Thinker’, but also rarely seen marble sculptures such as ‘The Earth and the Moon’.

Rodin was one of the first artists who elevated fragmentation to an artistic principle. When the wider public first saw his work exhibited in Paris in 1889, there was as much astonishment at his dynamic treatment of sculptural surfaces as there was at the fragmentation of the human form and the absence of plinths. The natural, uncontrived postures of his late figures were entirely at odds with the prevailing sculptural ideals that were still in thrall to the traditionally ‘acceptable’ poses. The innovative, uneven, furrowed surfaces of his forms, so unsettling to the contemporary eye, resulted from Rodin’s unique working of the figure’s bones, muscles and nerves, which in turn led to a very particular interplay of areas of light and shade.

This retrospective – positively monumental in its size and scope – has been conceived in close collaboration with the Musée Rodin, Paris, and the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The selected works range from Rodin’s production at the time of his ‘discovery’ in the early 1880s by a group of writers and artists to his ground-breaking designs for public memorials and monuments.

THE THINKER, THE KISS, THE GATES OF HELL

Visitors coming to the Kunsthaus are already greeted outside by the 6.80-metre high ‘Gates of Hell’ – a doorway inspired by Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ which Rodin continued to work on as long as he lived. For this piece – which was to remain unfinished – Rodin created 186 small figures, some of which he also executed as separate sculptures: witness his outstanding piece, ‘The Thinker’, which represents Dante Alighieri, whom Rodin greatly admired. This work, in its monumental version, was the first of his sculptures to be installed in a public space. It forms the heart of this exhibition which also includes other magnificent pieces such as ‘The Burghers of Calais’ and ‘Victor Hugo’. The loans – some of them very rarely seen large-format sculptures and original plaster casts – come from leading international collections. With its numerous sculptures, drawings, photographs and other documents, the exhibition will take the viewer on a journey into Rodin’s life and work.

THE QUEST FOR RECOGNITION

Rodin’s striving for success was legendary. He was constantly seeking understanding and backing for his art, hoping for recognition from politicians, the aristocracy and the wider public. Ninety years after his death all this and more is his. Generations of sculptures have been crucially influenced by his work and it is studied at every level of art education.

A GENEROUS EXHIBITION CONCEPT

In their pursuit of the artist who took sculpture down from its pedestal and captivated the bourgeoisie of his day, visitors will have the chance to peruse almost 160 bronzes, works in plaster and colored drawings distributed through 1,300 square metres of exhibition space. In this generously laid out presentation by Curator Christoph Becker, the open, modern architecture of the Kunsthaus offers the viewer both longer vistas and more intimate close-ups of the work, creating connections between different periods of the artist’s work. Audio guides provide in-depth information on the works themselves in several different languages and at no extra cost to the visitor.

The exhibition catalogue (published by Hatje Cantz, 320 pages) includes profoundly informative essays by Catherine Lampert and Antoinette Le Normand-Romain. With over 360 reproductions of Rodin’s work, the catalogue also provides the reader with additional facts and sketches relevant to his life. It is available at the Kunsthaus Shop or online at www.kunsthaus.ch/shop.

Visit Kunsthaus Zürich, Heimplatz 1, CH–8001 Zurich : www.kunsthaus.ch