„No Bührle“: liberated Claude Monet paintings for sale!

Milo Rau’s adaptation of the Swiss national myth “William Tell” premieres tonight (23.04.) at the Schauspielhaus Zurich. In the weeks before, Milo Rau and his team had carried out various accompanying events. Two weeks ago, the public marriage of a Sans Papiers (undocument migrant worker) to a member of the Swiss armed forces had led to a lively debate about regularization and citizenship.

But that’s not all: Three days ago, Rau and his team “liberated the Kunsthaus Zürich” where looted art from the weapon manufacturer and Nazi collaborator Bührle are exposed, in a “shaman action” – “an amazing solution”. Two „No Bührle“ NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are now up for auction.

They show a former forced laborer of the Swiss weapons manufacturer and Hitler-supporter Emil Bührle in front of Claude Monet’s “The Poppy Field Near Vétheuil” – one of the most famous and at the same time most controversial paintings of the Emil Bührle collection at Kunsthaus Zürich. The NFTs are painted over by the world-known Swiss artist Miriam Cahn.

Under the slogans “Hang Bührle on a String” and “Blood Money to Ransom”, the vernissage was accompanied by speeches of the historian Erich Keller, the former forced labourer Irma Frei as well as Maeva Emden – granddaughter of Hans Erich Emden, the former owner of Monet’s “Poppy Field Near Vétheuil”.

The proceeds of the action will go to the “Autonomous School Zurich” to support Sans-Papiers in their regularisation. “William Tell is no longer a legend, but a hope for all who have experienced injustice!”, as a newspaper wrote.

Help and bid for the paintings here: https://opensea.io/collection/nobuehrle

NEWS

• • “Creating Justice”: Süddeutsche Zeitung & Monopol on the Kunsthaus Zürich action

  • “Goebbel´s office“ “: Rau on the “Swiss Business Model”.

  • “A universal legend, explosively realized”: Swiss Daily News on Rau’s “Wilhelm Tell” adaptation.

  • “I am tired of this eternal search for presence”: Édouard Louis & Milo Rau restage “The Interrogation” for the National Theatre in Paris

  • “Activism and Intimacy”: Milo Rau presents two plays, a master class and a film retrospective at the Venice Biennale 2022.