Swiss Review / April 2022 / No.2 22 Culture JÜRG STEINER Zurich’sMayor CorineMauchwas full of superlatives as she stood in the entrance hall of the David Chipperfield Kunsthaus extension at the inauguration ceremony in autumn 2021 – superlatives that betrayed her city’s ambition in commissioning the British architect to transform what was hitherto a rather modest venue. In short, Zurich wanted the sophistication and global attention that a world-class art museum can attract. Chipperfield’s building, which cost 206 million Swiss francs, certainly has the necessary cachet. Berne boasts the ZentrumPaul Klee, Basel the Fondation Beyeler – bothmuseums designed by Renzo Piano. But now Zurich has surpassed both, withChipperfield turning the Kunsthaus into one of Europe’s biggest museums. Imposing structure, bright interior The Kunsthaus is located in Zurich’s densely built university quarter near the city centre, just up from the lake. This is where Chipperfield has added his imposing designmade of Jurassic limestone. Although its facade is softened with slim vertical fins, the imposing new block has attracted criticism in Zurich, with some locals calling it an oversized, elitist extravagance. At the same time, few disagree that the building’s bright interior provides a worthy setting for fine art. But in wanting to show off its artistic credentials, Zurich has also stirred some uncomfortable memories of the past. This is because the Kunsthaus extension has been designed in part to exhibit the illustrious collection of erstwhile Zurich industrialist Emil G. Bührle (1890–1956) – a permanent loan of 170works of art, including paintings by van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Renoir. Such an impressive roster of impressionists would normally be expected to grace Paris. Yet the association with Bührle, a contentious figure who manufactured arms, is awkward. Art lover and arms exporter The incredible story of Emil G. Bührle has long been critically reviewed and documented. Bührle was posted from Germany to Zurich in 1924, so that he could further the development of an anti-aircraft gun on neutral soil at armamentsmanufacturerWerkzeugmaschinenfabrikOerlikon. Such an assignment would have been impossible in Germany, because the Treaty of Versailles had banned Germany from rebuilding its domestic arms industry. In no time at all, Bührle turnedWerkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon into Switzerland’s biggest arms manufacturer – and became the country’s richest person. Bührle, who gained Swiss citizenship in 1937, had excellent connections extending to the upper echelons of Nazi Zurich’s new art building revives uncomfortable memories Architect David Chipperfield’s elegant Kunsthaus extension was hailed as a coup for Zurich. Yet the new building has become mired in accusations over the “plundered art” of contentious arms dealer Emil G. Bührle. Emil G. Bührle (1890–1956): art lover and arms manufacturer.
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