Fasnachtsbrunnen 1977

Fasnachtsbrunnen

Created 1975–1977, the Fasnachtsbrunnen was gifted to Basel by MIGROS to celebrate the retail chain’s 50^th anniversary. The basin occupies the exact site of the stage of the old city theatre, blown up in 1975. Measuring 16 × 19 m, the assemblage ranks among Jean Tinguely’s largest works and shows distinctive features of his oeuvre: kinetic, intricately engineered figures and mechanical composites made predominantly of repurposed iron painted black. The initial nine figures included the theatre head, a reproduction of an architectural ornament that once adorned the roof edge of the former theatre. A tenth figure, the piper, was added in 1983. Not only is water in motion, but also grotesque figures, leading the viewer’s eye from figure to figure, from squirt to spray to spout to sprinkle.

Jean Tinguely

Jean Tinguely (*1925 Fribourg–1991 Neyruz) moved to Basel in 1925, where he lived until 1952 upon relocating to Paris with his wife, artist Eva Aeppli. He met Niki de Saint Phalle among the Nouveaux Réalistes and they married in 1971. With her, as well as with many other artists, he realized numerous collaborative artworks, actions, and happenings.

His foremost interest was kinetic art, initially in mechanical and later in motorized forms, for which he used all kinds of scrap iron, junk, iron wire, and defective and worn-out objects. From 1969 he commuted between two residences, one near Paris and one in Neyruz (Canton of Fribourg). Residing in Neyruz also led to renewing and intensifying contacts in Basel and participation in the Basel Fasnacht, for which he designed striking costumes and props and occasionally initiated spectacular actions.

Title: Fasnachtsbrunnen
Date made: 1977
Artist: Jean Tinguely (1925 – 1991)
Materials: Stone, metal, mastic asphalt
Dimensions: 1600 × 1900 cm
Location: Theaterplatz / Klostergasse / Basel
Mode of acquisition: Gift from the Genossenschaft Migros on its 50th anniversary to Basel-Stadt
Collection: property Basel-Stadt