‘The Times They Are a-Changin.’ Bob Dylan’s simple yet powerful message, which represented the drive of an entire generation, still resonates strongly in our ears today. The artistic forms rooted in Switzerland approach this idea from another perspective, finding its strength in simplicity.
Consider Max Bill and ‘Die gute Form,’ or the Helvetica font. One could easily make the claim that in this simplicity lies rigidity as well. And yet, Max Bill and Bob Dylan complement each other in unexpected ways. Here we are in San Francisco, in 2016, a city not bound by strict code but rather a city which desires constant change and progress. Switzerland at Pier 17 represents this desire: a constant search for evolution, the “new”, and the unknown. For the opening, the space will be transformed into a landscape of basic shapes, overtaking the gallery completely to host a variety of dynamic and informal exchanges. No stiffness exists here. The US West Coast is meeting Switzerland, everything is soft, welcoming, and can be used informally. Foam objects, furniture sculpture, and basic figures will be assembled in a great variety of ways to evolve over the span of the opening weekend and the following month-long exhibition. Swiss precision with a cool attitude.
