10 September 2008 – 1 February 2009

"Im full of Byars". James Lee Byars in Berne - a homage

James Lee Byars (*1932 in Detroit , † 1997 in Kairo) was one of the 20th century's most unusual and elusive artist figures. A commuter between America, Japan and Europe, Byars has a particular affinity with Bern. The Kunstmuseum Bern is now devoting a large survey exhibition to this artist.

An American in Bern
Repeatedly, over many years, people like Johannes Gachnang, Toni Gerber, J.G. Lischka, Harald Szeemann and many others did much to ensure that this American artist was able to stay in Bern for several weeks at a time. The first performances took place in the 1970s. In 1972 Harald Szeemann invited Byars to documenta 5 in Kassel. As of 1975 he was a regular guest at the Galerie Toni Gerber in Bern. In 1978, the Kunsthalle Bern mounted a large solo exhibition of his works.
Although Byars often eschewed any kind of materialisation in his works - they were mostly short-lived performances - perhaps we owe the fact that the ephemeral in his oeuvre began to "solidify" here and there to the architectural peculiarity of Bern. In addition to the most varied kinds of marble, Byars was fascinated by Berne sandstone, with which he created numerous sculpture and objects in an almost classical repertoire of forms - using elements such as the sphere, the circle, the gate or the column.

Address

Kunstmuseum Bern
Hodlerstrasse 8-12
3011 Bern
phone +41 31 328 09 44
http://www.kunstmuseumbern.ch

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed on Monday

Description of the Museum

The collection of Kunstmuseum Bern has excellent exhibits, starting with italian art from the 14th and 15th century up to international contemporary art.

Within 10 days
starting exhibitions
ending exhibitions