zwischen den Worten – entre les mots – fra le parole Hommage à Mumprecht

With this exhibition the Kunstmuseum Bern is fulfilling a long-standing wish of the artist and his wife Esther Roth Mumprecht. The selection of exhibits in the show focuses on the artist’s late work in which he exclusively engages with the aura of language as well as its evocative and visual agency. Under the title zwischen den Worten, entre les mots, fra le parole the exhibition explores the space defined by Mumprecht’s distinctive artistic signature while also investigating possible word and image interdependencies. Space is comprehended as both poetic and artistic space in the context of this show.

Rendered in a spirited and precise way, we are fascinated how the words develop unexpected and utterly new meanings in different contexts. Or how we must reinterpret visual themes as neighboring images influence and transform them, giving us insights into the secrets of art regardless of whether we are veteran art viewers or not. Oui et non, demain, tant de temps, dopodomani — we can never be sure whether the works are stating a fact, questioning, or proclaiming something. Investigating all these interstices in Mumprecht's works is as informative as it is fun, and, in any event, an edifying activity. The exhibition will be a pleasurable experience especially for art viewers who, in light of contemporary developments, find a more traditional conception of art refreshing, a conception of art that still has the courage to enquire into notions of "good", "truth", and "beauty".