Sculpture by Grisons artist Matias Spescha (1925-2008)
On the grounds of Basel's University Hospital there are two sculptures by Matias Spescha - one is on the south side of Klinikum 2, the other in the garden on the other side of the building. Both of them are rather inconspicuous, we perceive them as integral parts of their surroundings.
Yet, if we get a chance to visit Spescha's architectural installation in his birth place, Trun GR, we begin to look at his work in Basel with different eyes. Here are some images of Spescha's work in both places.
What connects Basel and Trun is not only Spescha's art but also the river: one of the two sources of the Rhein - the Vorderrhein - flows just underneath the village of Trun. On its journey further north, it rolls the Alpine stones all the way to Basel ...
BASEL
One of Matias Spescha's sculptures is on Petersgraben, in front of Klinikum 2. It is placed on a supporting wall next to a staircase that leads to the entry of the parking garage. On warmer days, people lean against it while smoking, some perch atop of it. Does anyone recognise it as a work of art?
Spescha's more monumental work can be seen in the hospital's garden. Made of bronze, it stands high on a terrace. Formally akin to its smaller sibling, it is defined by straight lines, while two of its corners curve gently. Both sculptures were installed on the hospital grounds in 1979.
TRUN, in the Surselva region of the canton Graubünden, in the southeastern Swiss Alps
OGNA
Conceived by Matias Spescha shortly before his death in 2008, the walk-in installation OGNA opened in May 2023. It is located in the plain of the Vorderrhein, and, as desired by the artist, it is open to all throughout the year. Inspired by experimentation with iron tubes, the structure appears from outside as a large, curved container. A small door lets us walk in and delight in the abstract forms of the murals and free-standing sculpture punctuating the space. Open to the sky and the view of the nearby mountains, this monumental yet minimalistic, monochrome installation stands apart from the surrounding nature. And yet, it also becomes part of the landscape, especially in winter, when its pictorial space becomes part of a larger whole. In summer, OGNA's enclosure provides an extraordinary framework for concerts, readings and other performances.
Conceived by Matias Spescha shortly before his death in 2008, the walk-in installation OGNA opened in May 2023. It is located in the plain of the Vorderrhein, and, as desired by the artist, it is open to all throughout the year. Inspired by experimentation with iron tubes, the structure appears from outside as a large, curved container. A small door lets us walk in and delight in the abstract forms of the murals and free-standing sculpture punctuating the space. Open to the sky and the view of the nearby mountains, this monumental yet minimalistic, monochrome installation stands apart from the surrounding nature. And yet, it also becomes part of the landscape, especially in winter, when its pictorial space becomes part of a larger whole. In summer, OGNA's enclosure provides an extraordinary framework for concerts, readings and other performances.
Just as in Basel, here we see the interplay of positive and negative forms, the contrast between light and dark surfaces, as well as the reciprocity of surface and volume.
www.ogna.ch/spazispescha/www.ogna.ch/spazispescha/www.ogna.ch/spazispescha/The above video clip ends with an open door and a view of the bank of the Vorderrhein - one of two sources of the Rhein, the river flowing all the way to Basel and then further to the North Sea. A wonderful connection between two places featuring work by Matias Spescha (1925-2008).
More of Matias Spescha's art can be seen in Trun's former textile factory, where the artist used to work as a young man: SPAZI SPECHA is a 10-minute walk away from OGNA www.ogna.ch/spazispescha For more information about the artist, see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matias_Spescha
More of Matias Spescha's art can be seen in Trun's former textile factory, where the artist used to work as a young man: SPAZI SPECHA is a 10-minute walk away from OGNA www.ogna.ch/spazispescha For more information about the artist, see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matias_Spescha