Kunsthaus Zürich Funding Debate, Felix Baumann Obituary Lead Friday Media Roundup
A media roundup on Friday highlights four stories related to art. Daniela Janser, in the WOZ, examines the tight approval from Zurich voters for 7.3 million Swiss francs allocated to Kunsthaus Zürich, linking financial challenges to previous choices, such as the David Chipperfield extension and expensive provenance research for the Bührle Collection set for 2025. She points out that the 31-franc admission fee is unaffordable for many and criticizes the high salaries of officials. In the NZZ, Bice Curiger pays tribute to Felix Baumann, the former Kunsthaus director who passed away at 89, commending his impact until 2000. Hendrik Heß critiques the political notion of "Gesamtkunstwerk" in the FAZ, while Travis Diehl defends his views on Refik Anadol's work in Spike Art Magazine. Additionally, Ben Davis identifies the 18 most-represented artists in US museums.
Key facts
- Zurich voters narrowly approved an additional 7.3 million Swiss francs in subsidies for the Kunsthaus Zürich.
- Daniela Janser links the Kunsthaus's financial troubles to the David Chipperfield extension and the Bührle Collection, whose provenance research cost an extra three million francs in 2025.
- Kunsthaus director Ann Demeester earns more than the mayor of Zurich, according to the WOZ commentary.
- Former Kunsthaus director Felix Baumann died at the age of 89; his tenure ran until 2000.
- Baumann brought Harald Szeemann to the Kunsthaus as a freelance collaborator in 1981 and integrated photography into the museum.
- Bice Curiger wrote Baumann's obituary in the NZZ, praising his trust in staff and curatorial freedom.
- Hendrik Heß criticized in the FAZ the formula of the law as a "Gesamtkunstwerk," tracing it to Jens Spahn and Richard Wagner.
- Ben Davis listed the 18 artists most present in US museums in September for Artnet News, led by Jeffrey Gibson and Kara Walker.
Entities
Artists
- Hendrik Heß
- Bärbel Bas
- Friedrich Merz
- Jens Spahn
- Richard Wagner
- Travis Diehl
- Lucien Smith
- Refik Anadol
- Daniela Janser
- David Chipperfield
- Ann Demeester
- Bice Curiger
- Felix Baumann
- Harald Szeemann
- Joseph Beuys
- Bruce Nauman
- Cy Twombly
- Ben Davis
- Jeffrey Gibson
- Kara Walker
- Sky Hopinka
- Alex Katz
- Rashid Johnson
- Saya Woolfalk
- Joiri Minaya
- Saif Senussi Azzuz
Institutions
- Kunsthaus Zürich
- FAZ
- Spike Art Magazine
- FOOOD
- WOZ
- NZZ
- Artnet News
- Alterssicherungskommission
- CDU/CSU
Locations
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- United States