Not Vital. IR

Not Vital (1948 Sent, CH) is considered an artist nomad who has been exploring the whole world with anthropological curiosity for around 50 years. In his studios in Brazil, Chile, China, Italy and Niger, he lives and works with the local people and their cultures and traditions for a few months at a time. At the same time, Vital is closely linked to his place of origin, the Swiss Engadin, to which he regularly returns. The artist draws inspiration for his works from this multitude of places and encounters with people, local traditions and handicraft techniques, but also from his own childhood and youth memories. Formally, Vital's works are characterized by a captivating clarity and precision and convey a mysterious timelessness through their archaic iconography, which cannot be clearly defined. The Museum der Moderne Salzburg is dedicating the first solo museum exhibition in Austria to Not Vital. The extensive personale will present around 21 sculptures, three wall-sized installations and around 144 drawings.

Published by Thorsten Sadowsky for MdM Salzburg
With texts by Giorgia von Albertini, Christina Penetsdorfer, Thorsten Sadowsky, Not Vital

Hardcover, 24 x 28 cm, 128 pages, 95 color illustrations, German/English
Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg/Berlin, 2020
ISBN 978-3-96900-005-2

Accompanying publication to the exhibition Not Vital. IR , December 5, 2020 – June 13, 2021

Not Vital (1948 Sent, CH) is considered a nomadic artist who, for about fifty years now, has been exploring the world with an anthropological inquisitiveness. In his studios in Brazil, Chile, China, Italy and Niger, he lives and works for several months with the local people and their cultures and traditions. At the same time, Vital is closely connected to the place of his origin, the Swiss Engadine, to which he regularly returns. The artist draws the inspiration for his works from this multitude of places and encounters with people, local traditions and handicraft techniques, but also from his own childhood and youth memories. Vital's works are formally characterized by a fascinating clarity and precision and convey an enigmatic timelessness through their somehow indefinable, archaic-seeming iconography. The Museum der Moderne Salzburg is hosting Not Vital's first institutional solo exhibition in Austria. The extensive monographic show will include around 21 sculptures, three wall-filling installations and some 144 drawings.

Ed. by Thorsten Sadowsky for the Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Texts by Giorgia von Albertini, Christina Penetsdorfer, Thorsten Sadowsky, Not Vital

Hardcover, 24 x 28 cm, 128 pages, 95 color illustrations, German/English
Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg/Berlin, 2020
ISBN 978-3-96900-005-2

Accompanying publication to the exhibition Not Vital. IR , December 5, 2020—June 13, 2021