Armand Schulthess's Encyclopedic Garden at Palazzo Reali, Lugano

Palazzo Reali in Lugano presents 'Armand Schulthess – Il giardino enciclopedico,' a solo exhibition of the Swiss Art Brut artist (1901–1972). Schulthess quit his federal administrative job in 1951 to isolate himself in Auressio, Ticino, dedicating his life to collecting, cataloging, and transcribing human knowledge onto recycled metal plates hung from trees. His project attracted artists like Daniel Spoerri and was supported by Harald Szeemann and Ingeborg Lüscher. After his death, his family burned the property and most artifacts. Curated by Lucienne Peiry, the show displays surviving assemblages, books, newspapers, and notes, alongside photographs and documents. The exhibition avoids full reconstruction, offering instead impressions of Schulthess's magical garden. Concurrently, Palazzo Reali hosts a solo show of Giona Bernardi (1976–2015) and the 2016 edition of 'Che c'è di nuovo?,' a triennial for young Ticinese artists, featuring Alan Bogana and Karim Forlin (winner of the Migros Ticino prize).