Adolf Dietrich, Richard Phillips: Painting and Misappropriation

Swiss Institute is pleased to present an exhibition pairing historical paintings by the late Swiss artist Adolf Dietrich (1877–1957, lived in Berlingen) with recent paintings by American artist Richard Phillips(1962, lives in New York). The encounter results in a complex, multi-layered dialogue b... Read more

Swiss Institute is pleased to present an exhibition pairing historical paintings by the late Swiss artist Adolf Dietrich (1877–1957, lived in Berlingen) with recent paintings by American artist Richard Phillips(1962, lives in New York). The encounter results in a complex, multi-layered dialogue beyond categorizations.

Adolf Dietrich is characterized as one of the leading Swiss painters of the 20th century and controversially also as naïve artist. Richard Phillips by contrast is a contemporary painter, who pushes the medium to its limits by choice of controversial themes, a unique painting style as well as by the sheer intensity of his gigantic compositions.

The juxtaposition of “Painting and Misappropriation” is one of difference and affinity. Dietrich and Phillips share the same subjects like animals, portraits, and landscapes while both enhance figuration stylistically to a degree of artificiality that goes far beyond the depiction of reality.

The opening event is kindly sponsored by Appenzeller Bier Quöllfrisch.