Jean Tinguely

Date of Birth: May 22, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: August 30, 1991

Biography

Jean Tinguely was a Swiss painter and sculptor best known for his kinetic art, or sculptures in motion. Born on May 22, 1925, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Tinguely was a prominent member of the Nouveau Réalisme movement. He was passionate about creating art that was dynamic and alive, often using mechanical components to build complex, interactive sculptures. His works frequently explored themes of absurdity, destruction, and the passage of time. Tinguely moved to Basel with his family in 1928, where he later attended the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Arts and Crafts). In the 1950s, he relocated to Paris, which became the hub of his artistic activity. There, he became associated with artists such as Yves Klein and Daniel Spoerri. Tinguely’s most famous work, “Homage to New York,” was a self-destroying sculpture that he exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in 1960. Throughout his career, Tinguely created numerous public works and participated in various international exhibitions. He married fellow artist Niki de Saint Phalle in 1971, and the two collaborated on several projects, including the famous “Le Cyclop” in Milly-la-Forêt, France. Jean Tinguely continued to create and innovate until his death on August 30, 1991, in Bern, Switzerland.

5 Interesting Facts about Jean Tinguely

1. Jean Tinguely was part of the Nouveau Réalisme movement, which aimed to bring life into art by incorporating real objects and materials.

2. His most famous piece, “Homage to New York,” was a self-destructing sculpture that lasted only 27 minutes before disintegrating in front of an audience at the Museum of Modern Art.

3. Tinguely’s works often included found objects and scrap materials, embodying a playful yet critical commentary on consumer culture and industrialization.

4. He was known for his collaborations with other artists, most notably his wife, Niki de Saint Phalle, with whom he created several iconic sculptures and installations.

5. Tinguely’s “Le Cyclop,” a monumental sculpture located in Milly-la-Forêt, is an ongoing project that continues to be maintained and expanded upon by other artists.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jean Tinguely

1. “Art is the distortion of an unendurable reality… Art is correction, modification of a situation; art is communication, connection… Art is social, self-sufficient, and total.”

2. “The only stable thing is movement.”

3. “My machines are not machines in the sense of being efficient. They make fun of efficiency.”

4. “What fascinates me is the moment of creation, the moment when the piece comes alive.”

5. “Art is a game, and it is the game of life.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Jean Tinguely’s highest net worth is difficult to precisely determine due to the nature of his work and the art market, but it is estimated to have been in the range of several million USD at the peak of his career.

Children

Jean Tinguely did not have any biological children. However, he was closely linked with the children of his wife, Niki de Saint Phalle, through their marriage and artistic collaborations.