“There Is No Such Thing As Stagnation”

Jean Tinguely (1925 – 1991) caused a sensation with his moving machine-like sculptures and installations. The constructions consisting of iron parts welded together are full of spirit, love of life, irony and poetry. They represent an ironic attack on the senses of the technical era. As part of the Parisian avant guarde he revolutionized the artistic world which he felt had become static.

Tinguely rarely drew or made technical plans of his machines. It was therefore often difficult to get many of his large creations to start running once completed. To build his sculptures the trained interior decorator processed tons of scrap metal and employed Swiss locksmiths and welders. Without his iron specialists, Tingeley’s work of art would have never existed or functioned.

Tinguely’s fantasy machines with programmed random elements, the so called “métamatics”, are spectacular. These are machines to manufacture drawings or machines that self-destruct. 

Klamauk by Jean Tinguely. © Tinguely Museum/Basel

Source of Inspiration and Artistic Adversary

1971 Tinguely married the artist Niki de Saint Phalle with whom the artist worked together. For example, in 1980/1981 they presented a joint venture “La Fontaine Stravinsky” in Paris. Niki de Saint Phalle became world famous under her “Nanas”. Flamboyant, ample women figures made of polyester. In the 60’s she made her artistic breakthrough with them. She created the angel in the main station in Zurich.

Angel by Niki de Saint Phalle, Zurich main station

Even in his late years Tinguely’s drive for his art remained unchallenged. His last big retrospective took place in the Centre George Pompidou in Paris in 1988, where lately (1997) a large retrospective of his fantasy machines was organized to honor the man that had given so much to his art.

Jean Tinguely died on August 30, 1991 in Berne. The Swiss lost a great artist, who kept on living through his art, which still keeps moving to this day. 

Biographical Data

Jean Tinguely at work