Itchy Feet's map claims that every European city has a museum not far from St. Tourist Trap's Cathedral. As far as Zurich goes, they're not wrong.
With around 50 museums covering everything from art and history to science, design, and even sports, Zurich has quietly built a cultural powerhouse. Among its heavyweights are the Landesmuseum Zürich, Museum Rietberg, and today’s star: the Kunsthaus Zürich.
First Impressions: Blink and You'll Miss It?
In typical Swiss fashion, the Kunsthaus doesn’t scream for attention.
If it weren't for this guy here,
or this creature, you might walk past thinking it was a particularly elegant admin building.
Compare that to approaching the Guggenheim in NYC where the architecture already whispers (or shouts), “Prepare to be dazzled!”
And in terms of visitor numbers? Well...
Louvre (Paris): 8.7 million
Vatican Museums: 6.8 million
British Museum (London): 5.82 million
Kunsthaus Zurich: 400,000
Yep, the Kunsthaus doesn’t make the top 100 globally. But then again, Switzerland is all about quality over quantity, right?
Inside: A Journey Through 8 Centuries of Art
As Switzerland's largest art museum, the Kunsthaus Zürich brings together 800 years of creativity — from medieval works to digital art. The collection includes:
Paintings
Sculptures
Installations
Photography
Videos
Works on paper
So whether you’re into Flemish masters or pixel-perfect projections, there’s something for you.
Personal Highlights (and the Occasional Head-Scratcher)
I made a beeline for the Cubism, Expressionism and Surrealism wings — where you'll find works by Picasso, Chagall, Munch, Kandinsky, and Dalí.
This is where I happily lingered, soaking up the genius.
But then there were moments when I asked myself:
"What’s the socially acceptable walking speed to express ‘no thanks’ without offending anyone?"
Case in point: a concrete tube installation that looked suspiciously like it was waiting to be buried in a Zurich street. Sorry, modern minimalism — not today.
Everyday Art (and Unintentional Masterpieces?)
I’m a sucker for art that surprises you in everyday settings — like this soft-hued pastel moment:
Or this gloriously abstract "installation":
It must be art, right? I mean, this is Switzerland. No way that’s just an unfinished repair in a museum this pristine.
Kunsthaus Zürich may not win on fame or flash, but it’s the quiet type with depth.
When visiting art museums, do you linger at every piece or zoom through until something grabs your attention?
PS: If you're not too much into paintings, check back soon, a completely different type of museum may spark your interest!
Art is very personal. Loved the paintings you shared .The installation I am not so sure about .I love wandering through art museums wondering what the artist was thinking while creating particularly intriguing pieces
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I'm not one to enjoy art museums/galleries. I don't understand why a lot of it is called art.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the kind of museum experience I’d fall in love with—quiet charm, rich with history, and just enough quirk to keep things interesting. I love how you captured both the depth and the occasional head-scratcher!
ReplyDeleteI recently read about the 'GaiaMotherTree'—this huge, hand-crocheted installation that was once at Zurich’s Central Station. I wish it was still there so you could go see it for me! It sounded like such a magical piece.
Tamara, I enjoyed your walk through and commentary most. Can't say too much for the concrete tube, pile of clothes or the door lock. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh and linger. Lusting to go there - spend time with the "friends" who created all this art. "Friends" whose work I've mainly seen at MOMA or the Met. I have friends who could see the Met in a day - the perfectionist speed walker and I have friends who could linger at one painting until my feet scream move me. Thank you for sharing and sparking my mind.
ReplyDeleteI not big on going to museums, I did that when I was younger. I'd rather walk around and view nature. But some of the displays in your blog are very unique!
ReplyDeleteTamara, I have to admire the concise approach of an art museum simply called "Kunsthaus." The pieces were all interesting, except the concrete tube and the open door lock. Sometimes I think I'm in the wrong profession. If you ever come to Phoenix, there is an installation off Central Avenue that everyone said looked just like a female condom. The female artist denied it for months, then finally said, yes, it is a depiction of a v-gina. The piece is called "Her Secret is Patience" (See picture of it on Wikipedia). The City of Phoenix spent *$2.5 million* for it. Are we in the wrong business? Thanks again for a great post.
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