Remy Zaugg and the Questions of Perception

Interdisciplinary approach and theoretical foundation in artistic practice have always been part of the work by Swiss artist Rémy Zaugg (1943–2005), yet for him, painting had always remained essential. His artistic ­position therefore still remains quite unique not least ­because he, first of all, posed the existential question of perception. Without the artist’s, as well as the viewers’ perception, and the constant confrontation with ever-changing conditions, there would be no work of art. This can only be process-oriented and subject to various phenomena, and therefore cannot be reduced to just the object. Thus Rémy Zaugg always considered painting (since the 1960s) a kind of basic research for any applied projects, be it in architecture or urbanism. His ­writing on museum and exhibition architecture (from the 1980s and 1990s) may be regarded as key works on artistic examination, where amazingly simple realisations are formulated using rather suggestive rhetoric. This ­retrospective volume appears on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the death of the artist; there is ­currently no publication on his artwork available on the ­market. In addition, this book contains a small cross section of the unusual essay work by the artist.

Exhibitions:
Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen, 1/11/2015–6/3/2016
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Madrid, 7/4–28/8/2016

Rémy Zaugg (1943–2005) was an influential Swiss conceptual artist who became also famous for his collaboration with the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. He participated Biennale de Paris (1977), documenta 7 in Kassel (1982) and Sydney Biennial (1990), he had exhibitions at Le Donsortium Dijon 1992, Centre Georges Pompidou Paris 1995, Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven 1997, among others. The exhibition Question of Perception held in Siegen 2016 travelled to Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid.

The editor Eva Schmidt is an art historian and a curator, and since 2004, director of the Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen. She has curated numerous monographic exhibitions for Lucian Freud, Sigmar Polke, Bridget Riley, Antoni Tapies, Niele Toroni, and others. She revealed her special interests in thematic shows like Dear Aby Warburg, what can be done with the images? or 2018 with Remembering Landscape.