For the first time ever a thematic exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal paintings is being displayed in a Swiss art museum. The Kunsthaus Zug exhibits over 80 works by 50 artists from the time period between 1998 and 2008. All the art works belong to the private collection of Pierre and Joëlle Clément.

With the exhibition «My Mother Country – Paintings of the Aborigines» Pierre and Joëlle Clément present their unique collection – and a part of their life story, traveling to Australia’s Northern Territories, witnessing art being created and looking for and meeting artists on the ground. In conversation with Matthias Haldemann, Director of Kunsthaus Zug and curator of the exhibition, the collectors will talk about selected works and their stories. The tour will also lead through the first-ever solo exhibition of Emily Kame Kngwarreye in Europe. One of the most important and internationally celebrated artists among the initial representatives of this tradition.

Outside of the museum’s opening hours this exclusive tour will introduce you to the paintings of the region around Alice Springs with their particular degree of abstraction and will provide you with insights on their ritual and mythical backgrounds.

Program

18:00 – Doors open
18:30 – Guided tour through and conversation within the exhibitions with Matthias Haldemann, Pierre and Joëlle Clément
20:00 – Apéro
20:30 – End of event

Full no-show charge unless registration is cancelled until 24 hours before the event.

About the Collectors

Since the late 1990s, Joëlle and Pierre Clément have repeatedly traveled to the Aboriginal area in the large region around Alice Springs in order to meet the artists themselves. It was through this personal contact that they acquired the top-class selection of works that makes up this first-ever thematic exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal painting in a Swiss art museum.

About the Curator

Dr. Matthias Haldemann is Director of Kunsthaus Zug and curator of exhibitions with a focus on Wiener Moderne, contemporary art and interdisciplinary art with links to music, architecture, design, and literature. He is active scientifically and has published among others about Richard Gerstl, Egon Schiele, Wassily Kandinsky, Ilya Kabakov, Tadashi Kawamata, Péter Nádas, Dieter Roth, and James Turrell.