Pipilotti Rist takes over Casa Gstaad this summer
Casa Gstaad has joined with Hauser & Wirth to bring presentations of the gallery’s artists to the Casa Gstaad chalet
Pipilotti Rist has conceived the site-specific light installation ‘Seelenlichter (Soul Lights)’ for the opening presentation at the Casa Gstaad chalet. In this artistic intervention, natural light floats through tinted windows, transforming the mountain chalet into a universe of its own. The artist perceives each window as both an eye to the soul and to the outside world, offering a moment of reflection and contemplation in joyful multicolour. Rist has used this kind of intervention for museum exhibitions for over 20 years, explaining that ‘the window becomes one big pixel and is no dark hole anymore’.
In addition, a neon with the words ‘Lieber Schmusen (Rather Smooching)’ in the artist’s handwriting in pink is installed on the roof gable of Casa Gstaad, shining light red at night. Read as either an emotional exclamation or invitation, the neon is also reminiscent of the illuminated skyscrapers of major cities, contrasting with the mountainous, natural landscape of Gstaad.
Inspirational montage for ‘Seelenlichter (Soul Lights)’ by Studio Rist © Pipilotti Rist
Casa Gstaad, a charming, traditional-style chalet in the heart of Gstaad, is home to an interior design studio and showroom since 2020. In a new collaboration with Hauser & Wirth, an eclectic hanging of works by the gallery’s artists will be presented beginning 2 July.
Envisioned as a site for creative collaboration, artist interventions will be set in dialogue with the domestic setting of the chalet and its curated selection of modern design and furniture. Unfolding over two floors and an outdoor garden terrace, Casa Gstaad’s collaboration with Hauser & Wirth will host both solo and group presentations by gallery artists, creating intimate and unexpected encounters with art and design in the mountains. The inaugural presentation is made possible with the generous support of Alex Hank.
‘We are delighted to welcome both locals and visitors to the inaugural presentation featuring works by the incredible Pipilotti Rist and other great modern and contemporary artists from our programme.’—James Koch, Partner and Executive Director at Hauser & Wirth
‘The collaboration with Casa Gstaad will be a natural extension of our seasonal activities here, and we look forward to bringing outstanding modern and contemporary works by our artists to a wider audience in the Saanenland,’ says James Koch, Partner and Executive Director at Hauser & Wirth. After opening the private exhibition space Vieux Chalet in 2015, Hauser & Wirth’s relationship with Gstaad led to the inception of ‘Calder in the Alps’, an exhibition of outdoor sculptures by Alexander Calder installed in public locations around the town.
Since then, the gallery has organised a number of public art installation projects with the Gstaad Palace, exhibiting large outdoor sculptures by Jenny Holzer and Martin Creed, as well as exhibitions by Paul McCarthy and Louise Bourgeois at the exhibition space Tarmak22. Casa Gstaad will be open to the public during the winter and summer seasons and will complement Hauser & Wirth’s existing programme.
- Located on Lauenenstrasse 2 in Gstaad, this special presentation is on view from 2 July – 31 August, Wednesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm. A private preview will take place on 1 July 2021, 7 – 10 pm.
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