Bündner Kunstmuseum in Chur, Switzerland by Barozzi Veiga. Photo: Paul Clemence
The Paul Rudolph Institute is proud to present PAUL CLEMENCE: SHAPES, RHYTHM, ABSTRACTION / Swiss Museums, which will open September 26, 2025 and be on view until November 1.
This exhibition of approximately 30 photographs of museums from around Switzerland printed on brushed aluminum will occupy two floors of the landmarked Modulightor Building, named for the lighting company Paul Rudolph created with Ernst Wagner in 1976.
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts in Lausanne, Switzerland architecture by Barozzi Veiga. Photo by Paul Clemence.
Known for his ability to express the intangible side of Architecture through his abstract eyes, photographer Paul Clemence takes us on a poetic journey through Swiss museums in Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Zurich, Chur, Bern, and St. Gallen. With a focus on textures, patterns, shapes and light, the exhibit features a diverse mix of projects by architects such as Herzog & de Meuron, Mario Botta, Christ & Gantenbein, Barozzi Veiga, Buchner Bründler, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Aires Mateus, Shigeru Ban and others.
“This exhibit has a full circle feeling for me, since I have been photographing Swiss museums for the last 10 years, crisscrossing the country capturing these amazing structures. It has been a very inspiring journey, and I want this essay to show the variety of architectural approaches and concepts I found.” – Paul Clemence
Kunsthaus Baselland in Basel, Switzerland by Buchner Bründler Architekten. Photo by Paul Clemence.
The exhibit originated as part of Le Salon Suisse, an event hosted by Switzerland Tourism in 2023 during Miami Art Week. This new edition, curated by Eshaan Mehta, will feature new, never before seen images, plus a selection from a previous exhibit held at the Consulate General of Switzerland New York, and the short film “TWO PIANOS”. The film, a collaboration with filmmaker Axel Stasny, is an atmospheric take on two museums projects by Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
Still from short film TWO PIANOS featuring Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, Switzerland by Renzo Piano Building Workshop
“Shapes, Rhythm, Abstraction offers a fresh perspective on museums, presenting them as vibrant, evolving works of art. Rather than viewing them as containers for art, this show invites us to see the buildings themselves as creations in motion. This exhibition invites viewers to step into the intersection where art, place, and presence converge, reminding us that architecture is never static” – Eshaan Mehta
As part of the program and in the framework of this collaboration, several activations will take place during the exhibition period. Among them a special talk between the artist and Nathalie Herschdorfer, renowned photography curator and director of Photo Elysée Museum in Lausanne will be held October 8th at the Modulightor Building. Additional events and programming details will be announced soon.
Kunsthaus Zurich addition by David Chipperfield. Photo by Paul Clemence.
Paul Clemence is a visual artist, filmmaker, curator, author and writer focused on the cross sections of art, design and architecture. An architect by training, Clemence is known for his expressive way of capturing the built environment. Throughout his career he has photographed iconic structures all over the world by the likes of Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano, Bjarke Ingels, Lina Bo Bardi, Oscar Niemeyer, Ruy Ohtake, Herzog & de Meuron, and SANAA. His fine art output, from classic B&W prints to cutting edge large scale photographic installations is exhibited regularly and part of is an important part of his practice. Beyond that his work is often featured in design and culture publications like Gagosian Quarterly, Archdaily, designboom, Architizer, Casa Vogue Brasil, Wallpaper, The Design Edit, Architects & Artisans, Everett Potter’s Travel Report, Side of Culture. Clemence is originally from Niterói, Brazil and now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
This exhibition is presented with the generous support of Switzerland Tourism.
Eshaan Mehta, curator
Exhibition details for SHAPES, RHYTHM, ABSTRACTION: Swiss Museums
Dates: September 26, 2025 - November 01, 2025
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 1-4 PM; and by appointment other days/times.
Location: The Paul Rudolph Institute For Modern Architecture, The Modulightor Building, 246 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022. The exhibition space is elevator accessible.