Donald Trump figure to be strapped to a Cross in a Swiss railway station.
Donald Trump to be strapped to a cross in Basel's SBB train station
Cathcon: I suspect we may wait a long time for the Swiss Bishops' Conference to protest.
The Gleis 4 gallery, located in the former brasserie in the west wing, is being temporarily used. One work is likely to cause a stir at the opening.
The artwork depicts a person in orange prison garb tied to a cross. The text 'SAINT OR SINNER? by Mason Storm' is above it.
The work of London artist Mason Storm is highly political. What does the SBB say?
Just a week ago, the Basler Zeitung newspaper announced that a gallery would finally breathe new life into the former brasserie in Basel's SBB train station after almost ten years. At least temporarily.
The Zug-based Galerie Gleis 4 will move into the listed premises, although the gallery owners prefer to call it an "artistically curated temporary intervention" rather than temporary use.
The opening on September 6th already promises controversial debates: The work "Saint or Sinner" by London artist Mason Storm will be on display. It features a life-size figure of US President Donald Trump, wearing an orange prison uniform, strapped to a cross—or to an execution bed.
The entrance to an empty train station building where the Montreux Jazz Café is soon to open. People walk down a long corridor. Posters reading "Coming Soon" hang on the doors. Lighting and high ceilings characterize the space in Basel train station.
The Montreux Jazz Café was originally supposed to move into the old station buffet (pictured right). Instead, art will soon be on display behind the long-closed doors.
Politically controversial
The symbolism is "radically ambiguous," says gallery owner Melanie Breznik: "Is this a saint? A perpetrator? A mirror for our time?" Artist Storm leaves the decision to the viewer, and with it the uncomfortable question: "Who are we when we judge?"
The work is highly political. "And so topical that there really couldn't be a more fitting piece for this place – between movement, responsibility, and social tension," says Breznik.
This also raises the question of the role of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), as the landlord of the premises. How does the public company respond to the provocative art intervention at its station? The SBB, a spokesperson, says that, in principle, cannot interfere with the artistic direction. That is solely the responsibility of the tenant.
Large, empty hall with high ceilings, skylights, and large, colorful paintings on the walls.
The charming rooms in the west wing of Basel's train station have been unused since 2016. Now, they're being given new life.
Melanie Breznik, who runs Galerie Gleis 4 together with Konrad Breznik, describes the former brasserie in Basel as a "historically rich place." With its 630 square meters of contiguous space, it could even be the largest gallery space in Switzerland – she doesn't count museums and art houses that don't sell art.
Galerie Gleis 4 was founded last August by the Brezniks and is also located at Zug's train station. The vision behind it: to bring art to places where it is "surprising, approachable, and socially effective" – "places of encounter," says Breznik. There's also a local connection: two of the five Swiss artists represented by the gallery come from Basel: Tamara Riedel (aka Betonist) and Mirko Schneider.
Until recently, the Montreux Jazz Café and a fine-dining restaurant were scheduled to move into the station premises. After several delays, the project was thwarted due to historic preservation. SBB is currently looking for a long-term tenant.
The sculpture was previously on display at the Art Austria art fair in Vienna in May. According to an Instagram post by Storm, the work sparked controversy there. The gallery owner, Klaus Billinger, told the Catholic News Agency (KNA) on Wednesday that the installation had attracted considerable attention in Vienna. "It was probably the most photographed work in this year's exhibition." Now he is curious to see who will buy the work and how the buyer will decide the open question of guilt or sanctity. According to Billinger, the purchase price of the work is around 20,000 euros.
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