Jean Tinguely’s whimsical contraptions return to Milan for centenary showcase

A major exhibition at the Hangar Bicocca in Milan opens the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of Jean Tinguely (1925-1991). The selection of 40 sculptures, produced between the 1950s and 1990s, validates his reputation as a pioneer of kinetic art. Jean Tinguely was just a boy when the old Hangar Bicocca shed was a vital cog in Mussolini's war effort, transforming cast iron into parts for locomotives, airplanes and military equipment. The foundry continued to exist until 1986, when it was converted into a cultural centre. The exhibition in Milan represents the closing of a circle in Tinguely's international career. Here, in 1954, the fledgling artist took part in a show at the invitation of Bruno Munari (1907-1998), one of the creators of programmed and kinetic art. Tinguely’s contribution to the show ‘Tricycle’ (1954) is part of the Milan retrospective. It was the beginning of the post-war economic boom and consumer society was emerging. The enormous amounts of waste ...