And You Think Switzerland Is Boring?
Beatrice Lessi
Maurizio Cattelan at Foundation Beyeler
If you think Switzerland in boring, you might not be aware of its crazy – and financially impressive – art scene. Switzerland is the land of the biggest art fair in the world; Art Basel. Near Basel you’ll also find a real architectural gem: a museum, Fondation Beyeler (beautifully designed by Renzo Piano, its building and garden alone would be worth a visit), that recently hosted a Night Gala as wild as its guest of honor, controversial (and record selling) artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Toilet Paper
Toilet Paper, huh? Photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari and Maurizio Cattelan founded a magazine together, appropriately (at least to raise a few eyebrows) named Toiletpaper. The imagery they use are iconic, fun, controversial and wildly coloured. So imagine what happened at the Beyeler Museum, when Ferrari and Cattelan were put in charge of its decor for the “Summer Ball”, a fund-raising event to benefit the museum’s growth and expansion.
Dress Code
Dress code was fancy dress. And what a result! Guests really went for it. In my modest (fashion) opinion, the absolute winner was Caroline Lang, chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland. Her Toiletpaper-inspired golden overall, covered in red lollipops that apparently got melted by the end of the evening, was really jaw-dropping.
Cattelan dressed up as a Beatle in the St-Pepper’s period, and auctioneer Simon de Pury was outfitted in a fully-sequined silver suit. Standing atop a rotating stage in the center of the gallery, de Pury auctioned off lots that were brought in by technicians dressed as barefoot nuns with gloves. His wife, Michaela, was dressed in a lovely Campbell Soup mini dress.
The other incredibly daring “costume” was that of a pregnant woman…except, she was really pregnant and really showing her beautiful round belly.
Caroline Lang covered in gold, and red lollipops.
Iconic Toiletpaper magazine photos. Photo: corriere.it
Pregnant “costume” – beautiful and wild!
Simon de Pury during the auction. Photos: Mathias Mangold, Eddy Metzer. Courtesy of the Fondation Beyeler.
Cattelan and Ferrari. Shit! Photos: Mathias Mangold, Eddy Metzer. Courtesy of the Fondation Beyeler.
A not-so-boring crowd. Photos: Mathias Mangold, Eddy Metzer. Courtesy of the Fondation Beyeler.
Caroline Lang and Maurizio Cattelan
The Rooms
Toiletpaper’s mark was everywhere, including on the toilet paper itself, which featured the face of Hillary Clinton.
Tablecloths and paper towels reproduced the messy spaghetti theme that is so linked to the Cattelan-Ferrari duo. Salami and mortadella were hung allover the place, and images of food on walls or tables mixed with the bright colours of the guests’ costumes.
If you still think Switzerland is boring, you are probably missing a lot of its art, fun and creativity – you might want to visit Fondation Beyeler for a little taste of it!
Food, food and more food. Photos: Mathias Mangold, Eddy Metzer – Fondation Beyeler.
The table – amazing
Not your average interior design. Photos: Mathias Mangold, Eddy Metzer. Courtesy of the Fondation Beyeler.
Toast and prosciutto on walls – it happens, if your interior design is made by Maurizio Cattelan
A rich buffet
Golden balloons and pop corn walls
Simon and Michaela de Pury
The orchestra
