Arnulf Rainer's Art Brut Collection at La Maison Rouge

From June 23 to October 9, 2005, La Maison Rouge in Paris showcased an exhibition that combined the works of Arnulf Rainer with his collection of art brut, featuring artists like Louis Soutter, Max, Hiltraud Schmidt, Kepplinger, Mediz-Pelikan, Hauser, and Gustav Leiß. Curated by Antoine de Galbert's foundation, the exhibition sought to unveil Rainer's mental landscape. Rainer's passion for collecting art brut began in 1963, although his interest had started in the early 1950s. The exhibition emphasized formal similarities, including Soutter's finger drawings that resonated with Rainer's 1974 series. It also made a distinction between spontaneous creations and those made under medical influence, highlighting the precision in Rainer's expression. Anne Malherbe remarked on the necessity of using plastic means to transcend psychic origins for deeper significance.