Three notable events this year at Kunstmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler, and Museum Tinguely highlight the city’s dedication to showcasing diverse and groundbreaking art.

Kunstmuseum Basel: Paula Rego – Machtspiele

28 September 2024 – 2 February 2025

Kunstmuseum Basel proudly presents the first Swiss exhibition of the renowned Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego (1935–2022). Titled “Machtspiele” (Power Plays), this exhibition delves into over fifty years of Rego’s profound and provocative work.

Rego is celebrated for her powerful figurative paintings that vividly depict the complex layers of human relationships and societal dynamics, especially concerning women’s experiences. Her art, marked by a dark humor and a stark, unflinching gaze, transforms ordinary women into compelling figures, challenging the traditional portrayal of women in art. Rego’s work tackles themes such as tyranny, political conflicts like the Iraq War, and the tightening of abortion laws, creating scenes that are as unsettling as they are captivating.

Visitors to Kunstmuseum Basel can expect to be drawn into Rego’s unique narrative style, where the mundane and the fantastical merge, revealing the often harsh realities of life.

Fondation Beyeler: 

Henri Matisse – invitation to the Voyage

September 2024 – 26 January 2025

Fondation Beyeler will host a major retrospective of Henri Matisse (1869–1954), the first of its kind in Switzerland and the German-speaking world in nearly two decades. “Matisse – Invitation to the Voyage” features over 70 works, showcasing the breadth of Matisse’s revolutionary approach to art.

This exhibition spans Matisse’s entire career, from his early 1900s pieces to his iconic Fauvist paintings and the experimental works of the 1910s, the sensual Nice period, and his famous cut-outs of the 1940s and 1950s. Noteworthy works include “La Desserte” (The Dinner Table, 1897), “Luxe, calme et volupté” (Luxury, Peace and Pleasure, 1904), and “Nu bleu I” (Blue Nude I, 1952).

Curated by Raphaël Bouvier, this exhibition is an exploration of Matisse’s artistic journey, inspired by Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Invitation to the Voyage.” It promises to offer viewers a profound insight into the artist’s life and the cultural influences that shaped his vision.

Paula Rego, The Artist in her Studio, 1993 © Leeds Museums and Galleries

Museum Tinguely: 

Mika Rottenberg – Antimatter Factory

5 June 2024 – 3 November 2024

Museum Tinguely presents “Mika Rottenberg. Antimatter Factory,” one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of Rottenberg’s work to date. Known for her surreal and vividly colored video installations, Rottenberg (born 1976) uses her art to critique the peculiarities of capitalist production and its sensory impacts.

The exhibition features key video works and installations from 2003 to 2019, alongside her feature film “Remote” (2022). It includes new sculptures combining organic materials with recycled plastic and an interactive kinetic fountain sculpture. Rottenberg’s playful yet incisive approach bridges continents and dimensions, inviting visitors to a multi-sensory experience that challenges perceptions of reality.

Accompanying the exhibition is an innovative online catalog that reflects Rottenberg’s aesthetic through playful navigation, offering biographical insights, video excerpts, and critical essays.

Basel: a hub of artistic innovation

These exhibitions highlight Basel’s status as a global art hub, drawing art enthusiasts from around the world. With its rich tapestry of historical and contemporary art, the city offers a dynamic cultural experience, inviting visitors to explore and engage with groundbreaking artistic expressions.

Whether delving into the power-laden narratives of Paula Rego, the vibrant journey through Henri Matisse’s oeuvre, or the sensory-rich installations of Mika Rottenberg, Basel promises an unforgettable artistic adventure in 2024.  


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