Alexej von Jawlensky's Swiss Period Explored in Intimate Lugano Exhibition

The Masi Lugano presents a focused exhibition on Alexej von Jawlensky's Swiss and Ticinese period (1914–1921), tracing his artistic evolution during exile in Saint-Prex, Zurich, and Ascona. The show highlights his serial 'Variations'—landscapes and faces that became interchangeable fields of formal experimentation. Key works include 'Variazione. Sorgere del sole' (1918) and 'Volto del Salvatore' (1920). The exhibition argues that Jawlensky's wartime displacement forced a redefinition of his poetics, blending concrete life changes with the tragedy of world conflict. In Ascona, his 'laboratory of forms' intensified, producing works like 'Testa astratta: favola araba' (1925) that hint at new narrative possibilities. The show ends with a post-return German work, exemplifying the lasting impact of his Swiss years.