The name Raussmüller became internationally known above all due to the groundbreaking institutions that Urs Raussmüller created and operated on the basis of his exemplary cultural concepts: among them are InK, the now legendary hall for international new art in Zurich, as well as the world-renowned Hallen für Neue Kunst, Schaffhausen. Currently he is realising the Raussmüller Hallen in Basel.

Hallen für Neue Kunst, Schaffhausen

Hallen für Neue Kunst in Schaffhausen (1983/84 – 2014) was the leading museum for New Art as it had developed in the 1960s and 1970s in Europe and the USA. Created by Urs Raussmüller as the first consistent transformation of an industrial building into an art museum, it showed on 5,500 square meters a presentation of art which corresponded perfectly to the character of the works. The Hallen für Neue Kunst went down in history as the “Schaffhausen model” and has become the model for prominent follow-up projects worldwide. Raussmüller had created a museum in the spirit of the artists, which to this day is itself considered an artistic manifesto. After Urs and Christel Raussmüller had run the Hallen für Neue Kunst for 30 years as a private institution with great art and innovative ideas, they closed the institution in 2014 to continue their activities independently in Basel. [see corresponding texts on Insights]

InK. Halle für internationale neue Kunst, Zürich

InK was more than the exhibition institution for (later) world-famous artists as which it became legendary. Raussmüller realized a pioneering concept to promote and support art which he had developed for the Migros Genossenschafts-Bund: artists were invited to realize or present new works at InK. They were given space, assistance, and a remuneration; the works remained their property unless they were purchased either for the MGB art collection newly conceived by Raussmüller (today: Migros Museum of Contemporary Art, Zurich), or by Raussmüller on a private basis. Between 1978 and 1981, Raussmüllers organized about 60 exhibitions with 82 artists. They complemented the installations with concerts, readings and performances and distributed them in the InK-Dokumentation 1-8. In 1981, this successful art promotion project was brought to an end by an abrupt change of use of the building.

Renn Espace, Paris

Renn Espace d’art contemporain was realized in 1990/91 by Urs Raussmüller as a non-commercial venue for contemporary art for the director and film producer Claude Berri. Raussmüller stripped a multi-story former printing plant in the center of Paris of all its fixtures and created a spacious, bright structure under a glass roof – with the aim of showcasing important art in the special Parisian light. His Ryman and Yves Klein exhibitions in particular were celebrated as emotional events.

Casino Luxembourg, Luxemburg

With Casino Luxembourg, Urs Raussmüller transformed a building from 1882 into a contemporary exhibition venue, while retaining the historic structure. Later given the addition Forum d’art contemporain, it was active from 1995 to 2015 as a lively art space with an international echo. Together with the architecture, Raussmüller also created the concept and structure of a professional institution. It was inaugurated in 1995 with his spectacular Post-Impressionism exhibition as part of Luxembourg’s activities as a European City of Culture. In 1996, he facilitated the transition of this institution to a venue for contemporary art with the exhibition Main Stations (Innovations in Art since 1950). In 2015/16, the former Casino Bourgeois was restored to its original state.

 

Publications by Urs Raussmüller and Christel Sauer as authors,
editor and/or publisher

Exhibition index of Urs Raussmüller