zaha hadid kurt schwitters exhibition at galerie gmurzynska

from now until september 30, 2016, zurich’s galerie gmurzynska presents a retrospective exhibition titled ‘merz’, documenting the work of german artist kurt schwitters. the display builds and expands on the institution’s five decade long exhibition history with the artist, bringing together a total of 70 works within an interior gallery space designed by zaha hadid. ‘this design process is capable of delivering an intricate order, open ended and unpredictable, but at any time highly articulate,’ explains patrik schumacher, hadid’s long-term collaborator. ‘it is full of contingencies, but forges a unique, path-dependent identity.’

the exhibition documents the work of german artist kurt schwitters
all images courtesy of galerie gmurzynska

after realizing a similar project seven years ago, where zaha hadid transformed galerie gmurzynska into a ‘suprematist’ space in reference to kasimir malevich, this project pays tribute to another important artistic influence on hadid’s work. schwitters’ famous ‘merzbau’ — a collaged transformation of a series of residential rooms — was the starting point for hadid’s exhibition design, which seeks to embrace ‘the unpredictable richness and the complex variegated order found in nature’. paintings and sculptures by schwitters dovetail with zaha hadid’s own works, forming an abstract and intriguing marriage within the gallery.

the display expands on the gallery’s long exhibition history with the artist

‘the project was only possible through our extraordinary partnership with the late zaha hadid and zaha hadid architects,’ says mathias rastorfer, CEO and co-owner of the gmurzynska galleries. ‘a partnership that has formed over a decade. one of our most memorable collaborations was zaha’s selection of suprematist works by the russian avant-garde juxtaposed with her architecture at galerie gmurzynska.’

a total of 70 individual works are presented

‘the current schwitters exhibition with zaha hadid’s exhibition design, is the logical complement to the suprematism exhibition and takes place in the same space,’ continues rastorfer. ‘zaha’s spirit is ingrained in the DNA of zaha hadid architects and this exhibition is a testimony both to her and to the continuous creative powers of zaha hadid architects under the leadership of patrik schumacher.’

‘kurt schwitters: merz’ remains on view at galerie gmurzynska in zurich until september 30, 2016.

hadid’s designs complement the work of kurt schwitters