29.10.2015–31.1.2016
Museum Haus Konstruktiv | Etel Adnan | La joie de vivre | curated by Sabine Schaschl | video report by Mélanie Moser 2015

Museum Haus Konstruktiv is the first Swiss institution to present a solo exhibition on the artist Etel Adnan (b. 1925 in Beirut), who was one of the major discoveries at dOCUMENTA (13). She initially became famous as a writer, poet, and cultural editor. Her most important publications include the novel “Sitt Marie Rose” (1977), the book of poetry “Arab Apocalypse” (1980) and the artist’s book “Journey to Mount Tamalpais” (1986). Her first paintings were produced at the end of the 1950s in the USA, where she worked as a lecturer, having studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, in Berkeley, and at Harvard.

With over fifty paintings from all periods of her work, as well as selected tapestries, folding screens, fold-out books, and a Super-8 film, the exhibition at Museum Haus Konstruktiv provides an overview of Etel Adnan’s diverse forms of artistic expression. The artist has decided to call this exhibition “La joie de vivre”, the joy of living, thus emphasizing the statement-like nature of her art: as a decision in favor of life itself.