Jean Tinguely Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Biography

Born in 1925 in Fribourg, Switzerland, Tinguely displayed a fascination with movement and mechanics from a young age. His early life was marked by a restless curiosity which eventually led him to the Basel School of Fine Arts. There, Tinguely honed his skills and began to craft the foundational ideas that would propel his career as an artist.

The development of Tinguely took a radical turn upon his move to Paris in the 1950s, where he became associated with the Nouveau Réalisme movement. Influenced by Dadaism and the burgeoning interest in technology, his work during this period was characterised by an exploration of motion and the use of everyday materials. It was here that Tinguely began to create his Métamatics, sculptural machines capable of drawing or painting, which questioned the traditional role of the artist's hand in art-making.

Throughout his career, Tinguely collaborated with other avant-garde artists, including his first wife Eva Aeppli and later, Niki de Saint Phalle, who would become his second wife. Together, they created the renowned Stravinsky Fountain near the Centre Pompidou in Paris, a whimsical and vibrant public sculpture that remains a testament to their collaborative genius.

Tinguely's major exhibitions and achievements are numerous, with one of the most spectacular being the self-destructing sculpture Homage To New York, in the Museum of Modern Art in 1960. This event epitomised Tinguely's flair for the dramatic and his commitment to an art that was ephemeral, anarchic, and alive.

In 1960, Tinguely gained significant attention with his self-destroying sculpture Homage To New York at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This chaotic performance piece, which destroyed itself in the museum's garden, was a critique of the consumerist society and the art world's obsession with permanence. The event was spectacular, with elements of the machine setting itself ablaze, and it is considered a landmark in the history of performance art.
Tinguely was not just an individualist in his artistic pursuits; he was a proponent of collaboration. His partnerships with artists like Niki de Saint Phalle are a testament to his belief in the communal aspects of creativity. Tinguely's collaborations extended beyond visual artists to include interactions with composers and engineers, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach and the importance he placed on the integration of art and life.

Jean
Tinguely