Ricco Wassmer ~ New Works in the Collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern Opens

Written by rubin Friday, 12 June 2009 21:32

BERN, SWITZERLAND - Kunstmuseum Bern presents today Ricco. New works in the collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern, on view through October 18, 2009. Ricco Wassmer (1915-1972) is no longer an unknown in Berne. Seven years ago an extensive retrospective exhibition at the Kunstmuseum provided the opportunity to become acquainted with the idealising dream worlds of this almost forgotten outsider, whose work can be located beyond the avant-garde. This is the first time Ricco's paintings and works on paper from the museum's own stocks are being shown in a small exhibition. On exhibition from 13 June through 18 October, 2009.

The show is taking place within the framework of the research project related to a catalogue of works which is scheduled for publication in 2010. Curator and work catalogue project leader: Marc-Joachim Wasmer.

At that time, the interest of a broad public was roused by the encoded scenes, usually done after photographic model and combining peinture naive, new objectivity and playful surrealism. Since then, the Kunstmuseum Bern has been able to put together a representative work group thanks to the legacy of the collector Emanuel Martin and to further donations, works on permanent loan and acquisitions.

Swiss artist Erich (Ricco) Wassmer (1915-72). Ricco grew up in his parents' castle in Bremgarten in the canton of Bern, which was a dream world for him, because artists and writers such as H. Hesse were among his parents' friends. Soon wanderlust took hold of him and he travelled twice around the world on a freighter. In 1951 he settled in Castle Bompré near Vichy. During this time works for the most part on literary topics were created. One of Ricco's models recalls the influence of Alain-Fournier's “The Wanderer”. Author C. Geiser recites a text regarding a painting which was inspired by Rimbaud. In 1963 Ricco was arrested; the French police had found photos of naked young men, essentially the basis for the artist's works. Following his imprisonment, Ricco returned to the canton of Waadt to live in a manor in the village of Ropraz, where he died of an illness in 1972.

The Museum of Fine Arts Bern an institution with an international reputation. At the present time, the constantly growing and evolving collection consists of over 3,000 paintings and sculptures as well as 48,000 drawings, prints, photographs, videos and films. The roots of the museum’s history reach back to the revolutionary ideas proliferating towards the end of the 18^th century which, in 1809, led to the founding of the National Art Collection in Bern and, in 1879, to the opening of the first museum building.

The Museum of Fine Arts Bern is the oldest art museum in Switzerland with a permanent collection and houses works covering eight centuries. Visit http://www.kunstmuseumbern.ch/index.cfm?nav=567,1333&SID=1&DID=9

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