Frank Stella's 'Polish Village' and Chloe Wise's 'PsyFi' Shine in Basel
In Basel, two standout exhibitions offer contrasting explorations of memory and belief. At the Jewish Museum Basel, 'Frank Stella and the destroyed wooden synagogues' (through 21 Jan 2027) presents Stella's 'Polish Village' series (1970-73) alongside historical documentation. The show features a 1959 book by architects Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka, miniature models by Moshe Verbin, and a film connecting synagogue architecture to Stella's sculptural paintings. Stella, a Catholic, referenced over 70 wooden synagogues destroyed by Nazis. Meanwhile, at the Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger, Chloe Wise's 'Extrasensory' includes 'PsyFi', a 35-minute three-screen video loop exploring belief, divinity, and UFOs. The installation features a green room and fake gift shop with unsold merchandise, plus a 240-page publication. Wise's script draws from overheard phrases, creating fractured narratives reminiscent of 'Twin Peaks'. The exhibition is accompanied by an interview with Anika Meier.
Key facts
- Frank Stella (1936-2024) created the 'Polish Village' series (1970-73) referencing over 70 wooden synagogues.
- The exhibition at Jewish Museum Basel runs until 21 Jan 2027.
- Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka published a 1959 book documenting destroyed synagogues.
- Moshe Verbin built 1:100 scale models of the synagogues based on the Piechotkas' book.
- Chloe Wise's 'PsyFi' is a 35-minute three-screen video loop (105 minutes total footage).
- Wise's script includes phrases like 'I want world peace but for myself' and 'The dog died again?'.
- The 'Extrasensory' exhibition includes a green room and fake gift shop with unsold merchandise.
- A 240-page publication accompanies Wise's exhibition but is not for sale.
Entities
Artists
- Frank Stella
- Chloe Wise
- Maria Piechotka
- Kazimierz Piechotka
- Moshe Verbin
- Anika Meier
Institutions
- Jewish Museum Basel
- Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger
- Beyeler Foundation
- Kunstmuseum Basel
- FAD Magazine
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland