Jean-Frédéric Schnyder: banality is in the eye of the beholder

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Stilleben, JF + M, 1970. This still life was Schnyder's first painting, done with the help of his wife, the artist Margret Rufener. Schnyder says it was exhibited beside a Habsburg portrait in the first meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in 1971. Gunnar Meier Photography

These seven works are the only sample of Schnyder's work on display made during the early Bern years. Although the focus of the action then was in the Kunsthalle Bern, this series is being shown in the Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum). swissinfo.ch

Jean-Frédéric Schnyder during the shooting of the film "22 Schweizer Künstler" (22 Swiss Artists, by Peter von Gunten) in 1969. Schnyder also took part in the homonymous exhibition, organised by Harald Szeemann in the Kunsthalle. Balthasar Burkhard, Katalog, 2017

View of the exhibition in the Bern Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum), with the Empire State Building (1971) at the forefront. The sculpture is made of Lego, chewing gum, incense sticks and neon lights on top of a metal suitcase containing a high-voltage transformer. swissinfo.ch

Exterraner, 1974. A miniature made of synthetic resin on tin (15.4cm x 14cm x 3cm). Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

Torso, 1980. Schnyder says there is nothing symbolic or esoteric in his work. swissinfo.ch

How to Paint, 1973. swissinfo.ch

Teddy douce, 09.1984. Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

Dritchi V, 1986. Schnyder's dog Dritchi, a Tibetan terrier, features in a series of eight paintings made in 1985-86. Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

Dritchi VI, 1986. Tibetan terriers are revered in Tibet, where they are not supposed to be sold, but only offered as a gift. Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

Dritchi VIII, 1986. Maybe there's something to be said about projection, transference, alter-ego and other psychological phenomena in Schnyder's art. But the artist will certainly disagree. (Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

Micky, 02.1985. Yes, this is based on the Walt Disney character. Museum Of Fine Arts Bern, Switzerland, All Rights Reserved

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