Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely

Rebels and partners in life and art, Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) and Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) ‘couldn’t sit down together without creating something new, conjuring up dreams,’ as Saint Phalle once said. This exhibition shows their iconic works on paper, shooting paintings, decor pieces, monumental open-air sculptures, and kinetic machines.

The exhibition’s title reflects a fusion of ancient and futuristic elements, intertwining the realm of myth with the innovation of machinery. Saint Phalle’s creations feel particularly relevant as the art world turns its gaze back to the mystique of tarot and the occult, while Tinguely’s pieces carry a strong political charge, addressing themes like decolonization and the transformative power of reclaiming discarded materials. She remarks that rebellion itself is a poetic form, emphasizing how challenging moments can birth profound and radical artistry — a quality she identifies in Tinguely’s work. It resonates profoundly in today’s context, offering insight at a time when such freedom feels urgent. This notion is especially pertinent to our evolving relationship with machines — once conceived to serve humanity but often seeming to dominate instead.