Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Szeemann’s legacy

During Harald Szeemann's time as director of the Kunsthalle Bern (1961-69), the city became a magnet for radical artists, thinkers and bohemians. 

This period reached its peak, and its end, with the milestone exhibition, When attitudes become form (WABF), in 1969. The show was the first grand display of conceptual art. Szeemann’s work also broke with tradition concerning how exhibitions were staged (until then with the artist, or group of artists as the centre of attention) and gave rise to the importance of the curator: someone who devises an exhibition following a concept, a theme, or programme. The artists, and also non-artists are then slotted in.

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR