Curated by the artist Peter Fischli for the Kunsthaus, this exhibition centres on a selection of drawings and paintings by Ferdinand Hodler from the Kunsthaus's own collection. Jean-Frédéric Schnyder's image cycles 'Berner Veduten' ('Bernese Views,' 1982–1983) and 'Am Thunersee' ('On Lake Thun,' 1995) are displayed in separate rooms but linked to Hodler conceptually. The 'Bernese Views' were the first venture by Schnyder (*1945) into a tradition of plein air painting profoundly influenced by Hodler. His canvases of Lake Thun took him deep into Hodler's territory; yet his approach, which lives from the meticulous exploration of the possibilities of extended image series, sets him apart from that of the older master. Peter Fischli therefore emphasizes the divergent nature of the two artists, but also identifies one major common feature: both, in their paintings, deal primarily with painting itself. Beyond iconography and categorizations, the exhibition thus allows us to share the artists' perspectives on the translation of the world into painting.
