Artists

Roman Signer

Press release

The Kunsthaus Zürich shows the fascinating world of Roman Signer. The large exhibition gallery will be transformed into an open artistic landscape where playful energy and a deep sense of wonder about nature come together. Roman Signer (1938, Appenzell) is a master of transformation. For over five decades, he has explored the possibilities of time, space, and energy using the simplest of materials. Everyday objects such as buckets, bottles, or kayaks become carriers of surprising, poetic events in his art. With curiosity and a sense of experimentation, Signer challenges the order of the world and invites us to rediscover its beauty and power from new perspectives. The upcoming exhibition offers a chance to experience Signer’s work in an open and dynamic setting. Without walls or boundaries, the artist arranges his works so that visitors can explore them as if taking a walk. At the heart of the exhibition are new works created specifically for the show, alongside significant pieces from various stages of his career. An iconic element in Signer’s oeuvre is the kayak – sometimes suspended, sometimes dismantled, or on a bumpy ride through the landscape. His works surprise, inspire wonder, and encourage us to rediscover the world with a sense of playfulness. In addition to the sculptures, the exhibition features films and photographs that highlight the temporal and performative aspects of Signer’s art. This creates a compelling dialogue between permanence and transience, between the forces of nature and humanity’s attempts to harness them.