rev:text
| - Art is the highest form of hope - G. Richter.
I love modern and contemporary art (see other reviews I wrote) and was looking forward to visiting the Bechtler, but was underwhelmed. The good news is that it is relatively inexpensive ($8 adults, $6 seniors), but the bad news is that there is not much there.
This museum is literally next door to the Mint Museum (uptown). It is an impressive looking building with a statue in front called the Firebird (17 feet tall) by Niki De Saint Phalle. It has been open about a decade. One wonders why Bechtler did not give his art to the Mint and perhaps build an additional wing there. But, egotism is strong: people love to get their names on museums, hotels, etc.
Anyway, inside is modern and contemporary art, with a leaning toward European artists (Bechtler is Swiss). The special exhibition up until 9/9/18, which takes up the top floor, is "Wrestling the Angel: a century of artists reckoning with religion". I was not impressed and much of the work in the show was not museum quality. Moreover, there was little on the other floors.
Although I usually spend hours in a new museum (slowly absorbing great art), one hour was plenty at the Bechtler.
|