Urs Fischer brightens up Gstaad at Gagosian

by Laura Lati | Mar 3, 2025 | Columns

Urs Fischer, ‘Easy Solutions and Problems’, at Gagosian Gstaad © Laura Lati

The prominent art gallery Gagosian launched its exclusive mountain location in the village of Gstaad exactly three years ago during the resort’s peak winter season, in February 2022. Urs Fischer’s current exhibition ‘Easy Solutions and Problems’ marks the 10th show of the gallery. Following exhibitions often focused on sought-after contemporary Swiss artists such as Carol Bove or artists with a strong connection to the region such as Setsuko, Urs Fischer’s is no-doubt a must-see. Across the ice skating rink, at the end of the Gstaad Promenade, this exhibition will be on view until March 23, 2025.

Two ongoing series by the artist alternate on the walls of the gallery. Problem Paintings series (2010-) is represented by five new works on aluminum panels in which a delicate flower is layered on top of Hollywood icons such as Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly. In previous works from the series, the enlarged paint-colored headshots of celebrities were obstructed with silkscreened fruits and vegetables like beetroots and bananas. These still life images have evolved into glowing flowers, however the portraits have remained monumental with a touch of humor. These works are listed around one million USD.

Urs Fischer, Spirits, 2024. Aluminium panel, honeycomb, polyurethane adhesive, water-based screen printing paint, 205,3 x 163,5 cm © Laura Lati

Humor is a recurring feature of Urs Fischer’s oeuvre. Whether it’s the ephemeral quality of his wax sculptures or in his present new series Chumbox (2024-) of which seven paintings on canvas are exhibited, observing the Swiss artist’s works generates uneasy amused emotions. The Chumbox artworks reference examples of advertising slogans that in the recent years have led people to fall for treatments, products or solutions that were inefficient or overpriced. The works nudge to the spam, the visual culture and the marketing biases we are exposed to as a consumer society. I truly enjoyed “Don’t Borrow From the Bank If You Own Your Home, Do This Instead”, the classic “chum” message in the form of “do this instead, it’s genius.”

Urs Fischer, Top Secret, 2025. Oil on canvas, 61 x 86,4 cm © Gagosian

Art exhibitions and galleries outposts opening in posh winter sports resorts in Europe and the United States have been increasingly popular. Gstaad now even has an annual art fair, on top of a location for Almine Rech gallery and Tarmak 22, a gallery overseeing the airport’s tarmac, at this time hosting a Calder exhibition in collaboration with Nahmad Contemporary. Aspen had their ski lift tickets for the 2024-2025 season designed by artist Alex Israel with a ski-only accessible installation on Ruthie’s Run. Saint Moritz now hosts Nomad in February, an art and design fair with many high end galleries in attendance. Bringing art to high altitude contributes growingly to the Après Ski draw for tourists and seasoned mountain residents.