Jasper Johns's Early Decade at Kunstmuseum Basel

The Kunstmuseum Basel presents a focused exhibition on Jasper Johns's first decade of work, following its run at the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Curated by Jeffrey Weiss (US) and Bernhard Bürgi (Switzerland), the show features a compact selection of 70 works, giving equal weight to drawings, prints, and paintings. This intimate approach contrasts with typical monographic blockbusters, allowing visitors to delve into Johns's enigmatic practice. The exhibition is organized around four central motifs from 1955–1965: targets, the compass tool, stenciled letters, and body imprints. Notably, the flag motif is underrepresented, appearing only in two prints and a small painting near the exit. The sparse installation, without elaborate scenography, forces close attention to the subtle details of works on paper, many from private collections and shown for the first time. Highlights include four "Study for Skin" works from 1962, direct body decalcomanias that convey a medusan anxiety best experienced in person. The exhibition runs from June 2 to September 23, 2007.