Art in The Park XI 2013: Robert Klippel
Exhibtion dates: June – August 2013
Galerie Gmurzynska announces, in collaboration with Gigi Kracht, the first exhibition of modern master sculptor, Robert Klippel, outside of his native Australia in five decades. Opening the weekend before the Art Basel, June 9, at the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, this monumental outdoor exhibition will be the first chance for Western audiences to experience important works by Klippel since he legendarily refused to show outside of Australia in the mid-1960s. The centerpiece of this exhibition will be a complete pond installation of eight bronzes, which are also on permanent view at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. This will be the first historically focused exhibition at the Park at the Baur au Lac Hotel, an exhibition collaboration between Galerie Gmurzynska and the Baur au Lac. Robert Klippel (1920-2001) is a preeminent sculptor of the 20th century. He is credited with linking constructed sculpture and assemblage in 20th century art. He was a central expat participant of the Parisian Surrealist scene, as well as New York in the late 1950s. He had close connections with major artists like Henry Moore, Andre Breton, and Jean Paul Riopelle. Although exhibiting prominently with rave reviews in New York from the late 50s to mid 1960s he returned to Australia and never exhibited outside of the country again.