Bruno Munari, Jean Tinguely: Macchine inutili

The exhibition brings together a selection of works by Bruno Munari (1907–1998) and Jean Tinguely (1925–1991), spanning from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. At its centre is a dialogue between two artistic positions that fundamentally transformed the conception of art in post-war Europe — two kindred spirits, long before they became colleagues and friends.

Drawing on Italian Futurism, Munari had already begun developing his "Macchine inutili" in the 1930s: light, suspended constructions made from simple materials that render movement, light and space tangible. Conceived for everyday life, they sought to democratise art and to move beyond the boundaries of traditional artistic categories.

Tinguely took up this idea of form in motion and developed it into his own kinetic works. Often motorised and deliberately purposeless, his machines combine playful lightness with an ironic critique of progress, technology and consumer society. Movement, chance and disruption become central principles of form.

Both artists challenge the notion of art as a static object. Their “useless machines” produce light, sound or movement, without functional purpose, but with great poetic force.