Rolf Rappaz, Willy Eidenbenz, and Hans Aeschbach –
The Biographies of Three Graphic Artists
 
Examining the history of design education in Switzerland over the past century reveals that, except for the École des Beaux-Arts Genève in Geneva, art education was nonexistent. Most Swiss artists, such as Augusto Giacometti, received education and training as art teachers or graphic designers. Since the 1920s, generations of graphic artists have worked successfully in both commercial and artistic fields.
 
Rappaz (1914–1996), Willy Eidenbenz (1909–1998), and Hans Aeschbach (1911–1999) were three successful representatives of this generation in both applied graphics and fine art. They completed their education around the same time. Eidenbenz and Aeschbach trained in Zurich under Ernst Keller, while Rappaz trained in Basel. Eidenbenz went to Germany (Magdeburg and Berlin), while Rappaz and Aeschbach continued their studies in Paris at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. Rappaz taught at the Allgemeine Gewerbeschule Basel (Basel Vocational School), and Aeschbach taught at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich (Zurich School of Arts and Crafts). All three are linked by their successful careers as poster designers and their commitment to fine art. In this sense, they are exemplary representatives of a generation of designers who significantly contributed to the reputation of Swiss graphic design.
 
This exhibition shows the multifaceted nature of the lives and art of Hans Aeschbach, Willi Eidenbenz, and Rolf Rappaz as reflected in the 20th century. It focuses on the emergence and development of Swiss graphic design (Swiss Style), explaining it as a complex interplay of economics, art, and politics, and exploring its social and historical aspects. A chronological narrative provides the framework for the exhibition, making the biographical documentation of these three artists comprehensible. Alongside the completed works, including posters and paintings, the exhibition will feature documentary snapshots, drafts, materials, and studies for later works, as well as texts to encourage reflection on the theoretical and practical background of graphic and artistic creation.
 
Concept and implementation: Yujin Kim, Armin Vogt, and Peter Vetter