Harald Szeemann – Miroslav Tichý
17.09. – 28.11.2021
The first exhibition of the Tichy Ocean Foundation in its new exhibition space «Tichy Ocean Zurich» in Zurich honors Miroslav Tichý and Harald Szeemann in the form of a replica of the first international exhibition of Miroslav Tichý, which Harald Szeemann curated in 2004 on the occasion of the 1st Biennial of Contemporary Art «La alegria de mis sueños» (The Joy of My Dreams) in Seville.
At that time, Harald Szeemann selected 27 photographs from Miroslav Tichý’s extensive oeuvre to be exhibited in Seville. Of these 27 photographs, we were able to bring more than half back to Zurich and exhibit them. The gaps are filled with photographs that were also part of the selection at that time, but not exhibited. In showcases we display self-made cameras, glasses, lenses, prints with printing plates and negative boxes by Miroslav Tichy, similar to what Szeemann showed in Seville seventeen years ago. Additionally we also present «archeological excavations» from Miroslav Tichý’s studio. The 52-minute film «Tarzan Retired», 2010, by Roman Buxbaum provides deeper insights into the art and thinking of Miroslav Tichý.
Although Harald Szeemann never met Miroslav Tichý in person, Szeemann’s encounter with Tichy’s photographic work was fateful. The Biennial «La alegria de mis sueños» was one of Harald Szeemann’s last major exhibitions and the first appearance of Miroslav Tichý’s work on the international art stage. After the Seville Biennial (2004), retrospectives followed at the Kunsthaus Zürich (15.07. – 18.09.2005, curated by Tobia Bezzola), at the Centre Pompidou (25.06. – 22.09.2008), at the Museum für Moderne Kunst MMK in Frankfurt (08.03. – 03.08. 2008), at the 16th Biennale of Sydney: Revolutions – Forms That Turn, curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev (18.06. – 07.09.2008) and at the International Centre of Photography in New York, curated by Brian Wallis (29.01. – 09.05.2010). In 2005 Tichý even received the «Prix Découverte» of the renowned photography festival Les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles.