Long before Robocop, avant-garde visionaries had dreamed up their share of human-machine hybrids. In the tradition of German Romantics such as E.T.A. Hoffmann and Heinrich von Kleist, Bauhaus artist Oskar Schlemmer (1888-1943) developed an intricate theory of man’s “metaphysical anatomy” and materialized his speculation in an unusually prolific production, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, stage designs, theater plays, ballets, and pantomimes, as well as works that dodge any traditional classification. Curated by Corinne Diserens, this large-scale exhibition will present Schlemmer’s art in all its complexity—including his works for the stage, which will be reconstructed in collaboration with the Centre National de la Dansc and the Festival de Marseille.
