Die Nichtschönen: Works, 1967–1974

Titled “Die Nichtschönen: Works 1967—1974” (meaning “non-beauties”), Kunsthalle Basel’s presentation of Joachim Bandau features creations from the aforementioned period which the artist made by de- and reconstructing department store mannequins. Following the scientific and industrial advances of the decade leading up to these works, Bandau began an exploration of the body’s relationship to technology by transforming the form of the mannequin through techniques like sanding and coating them in fiberglass until their humanoid qualities were almost entirely camouflaged.