St. Moritz Art Masters 2012
24 August–2 September 2012
Various places in and
around St. Moritz, Switzerland
In its fifth edition, St. Moritz Art Masters presents works by internationally and nationally well-known artists in no less than 30 settings in and around St. Moritz. On show from 24 August to 2 September 2012 are works by Hamish Fulton, Tom Sachs, Ron Arad, Carl Andre, James Turell, Mimmo Rotella and other artists. This year’s art festival has a specific national focus on Brazil, which is represented for instance by Vik Muniz, Adriana Varejão, Saint Clair Cemin, Pedro Wirz or the architect and designer Paulo Sergio Niemeyer. Switzerland contributes to the show with works by Lutz & Guggisberg, Kerim Seiler, Urs Cavelti, Giuliani Pedretti or Cabaret Voltaire. The programme is enriched with WALK OF ART TOURS, artist talks, the art and architecture symposium E.A.T. (Engadin Art Talks), a photo workshop with the renowned photographers Amedeo M.Turello, Steve McCurry and Jock Sturges and by various evening events.
The visitor to St. Moritz Art Masters has the chance to experience top-class art in a unique natural setting and to meet the contributing artists themselves. Many artists will stay in St. Moritz for several days, allowing art enthusiasts to get in touch with them, exchange ideas and discuss art in a relaxed atmosphere. The festival encompasses contributions by local museums and cultural institutions together with a number of internationally active galleries, the local five star hotels and the tourism industry.
Access to the exhibitions is free for the public. Another important element of the festival is its non-commercial nature and the fact that it has an experienced curator in the person of Reiner Opoku, who knows how to find a balance between the most diverse project ideas and fuse them into a coherent whole.
National focus “Brazil”
This year artists and projects from Brazil are the national focus of St. Moritz Art Masters. Designer objects by Paulo Sergio Niemeyer, the grandson of the great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, will be on display in St. Moritz. A further exhibition will present works by Adriana Varejão, who combines elements that arrived in Brazil through the colonization by the Portuguese. Thiago Rocha Pitta will install his walk-in work Hermit high above St. Moritz: like a secret garden in natural surroundings it offers shelter to passing humans. Vik Muniz concerns himself with processes of evaluation and creation, presenting three-dimensional trompe-l’oeils. Roberto Cabot shows his installation Mediamorphosis in the car park Serletta St. Moritz. Saint Clair Cemin, Carlito Carvalhosa and Pedro Wirz will also be present at SAM.
Hamish Fulton
The British concept artist and land-art protagonist Hamish Fulton, who has made a name for himself worldwide as a “Walking Artist,” constitute a special position. At St. Moritz Art Masters his works can be seen in two venues and on the occasion of a free public walk.
Lutz & Guggisberg
The internationally renowned Swiss artist duo Lutz & Guggisberg presents a further highlight of the festival. Their oeuvre fascinates through its wide range of materials and styles, creating a network of allusions to the history of art and culture.
Kerim Seiler
The project Relay by Kerim Seiler is quite spectacular: this year’s project for the St. Moritz Art Masters Foundation consists in erecting a structure on the roof of the Crystal Hotel. The artist thereby continues a project began in Johannesburg where artists can use a space as a temporary atelier.
Tom Sachs
With his sculpture Miffy Fountain, the renowned US artist Tom Sachs will be present at St. Moritz Art Masters. Sachs uses consumer goods, historical objects and cultural iconography and plays with these elements.
Engadin Art Talks / E.A.T.
On the 25 and 26 August and within the framework of St.Moritz Art Masters the symposium on art and architecture Engadin Art Talks / E.A.T. will take place at the Lyceum Alpinum in Zuoz. Artists, architects and designers are invited to talk about the topic “Visions for the Alps.” The participants will discuss and philosophize on visions and projects that have been conceived for the mountains or inspired by them.
