A match made in heaven

From the university magazine Zett

Photograph: Axel Dupeux

Published on

Author Leoni Hof

The collaboration between the Department of Fine Arts and the Ursula Hauser Collection has enabled students to access a premier art collection. What motivates Ursula Hauser to support teaching at ZHdK?

Franz West’s “Lemurenköpfe” are part of the collection as much as Maria Lassnig’s “Die rasende Grossmutter”: Ursula Hauser (*1939) has created one of the most important collections of contemporary art in the world. Since autumn 2021, BA Fine Arts students have enjoyed unrestricted access to the collection. The cooperation involved making works from the collection accessible to the public at the NEST exhibition space, as well as bringing them into dialogue with works by students and lecturers and discussing them in class. The seed for this cooperation was planted over 10 years ago high above the clouds: former head of programme Raphael Gygax met Ursula Hauser on a plane to New York; they became friends and agreed to exhibit her outstanding collection at ZHdK, outside the traditional framework. A match made in heaven.

Leoni Hof: As a philanthropist, why are you committed to the arts of all things?

Ursula Hauser: When I was young, I dreamed of becoming an architect, which unfortunately was not possible at the time. Today, I want to support young people who are studying a creative discipline.

You began collecting art in the 1980s. Which work sparked this passion?

The first work of art that I acquired was a sculpture by Mädy Zünd. I was still an apprentice at the time and had to save two months’ wages to buy it, but I really wanted to have the work. I fell in love with the work and still love it today! Art was never a big thing in my family, but fabrics and textiles were. My mother was a dressmaker. We always had sample collections of fabrics and embroideries at home for customers, which I loved to browse through. Sometimes, I was allowed to make something from the leftovers and later I began sewing my own clothes.

I haven’t acquired any of the works in my collection for strategic reasons. I only buy what touches me. Art makes me think, or feel sad or happy. That’s why I like living with my works: they are like friends, like family.

Ursula Hauser
How strategically did you go about building the collection?

I haven’t acquired any of the works in my collection for strategic reasons. I only buy what touches me. Art makes me think, or feel sad or happy. That’s why I like living with my works: they are like friends, like family. I like having them around me.

Does building such an important collection come with responsibility?

Absolutely! Collecting art is a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. In my case, it means having my collection looked after professionally and ensuring that it is accessible to the public. I have a great team that manages the professional storage, packaging and conservation of the works and ensures they are available for loans worldwide. We began cooperating with ZHdK to enable young students to engage with the works.

Why ZHdK?

I grew up in Eastern Switzerland, which is still my home. I want my collection to make a difference in my environment and to make it accessible to young people. I became aware of ZHdK through Raphael Gygax and my curator Laura Bechter. Laura was already teaching at the DFA at the time, so everything fell into place quite easily. Quite honestly: What could be better than giving young people access to artworks by international artists? As part of our collaboration, students curate an internal exhibition with works from my collection, which is open to all ZHdK students after the opening. I find the exhibitions that are created as a result truly fascinating.

What challenges did the cooperation involve?

As ZHdK isn’t a classical museum space, the only challenge was insuring the works, which meant adjusting the insurance requirements. But that was it!

You find meeting “your” artists personally important. Do you have any recommendations for young artists about creating viable networks?

I got to know many of the artists in my collection through other artists. That’s why I consider this type of networking extremely important. Visiting galleries, offspaces and museums is also very important in order to observe other artists, get inspired and educate oneself in the current discourses.

What makes you support an artist long-term?

My enthusiasm for art and my curiosity! There is still so much to discover, even with artists that I have had in my collection for a long time. There are always works or positions that are missing from my collection. And so much remains to be learned!

Can you elaborate on your dictum, “The artist comes first. Always”?

Collecting is not about me and my collection. I see myself as a custodian of art; it’s an honour and a pleasure that these works have been entrusted to me. But ultimately, it’s entirely about the artists.

You say about yourself: “I’m not a professional, but perhaps I’m quite good at recognizing good artists.” What distinguishes good art and can we train to have a “good eye” for art?

I’m not an academic and never studied art or art history. It simply wasn’t possible back then. But over time, I realized that I have a good gut feeling and could trust it. I “trained” my eye by studying exhibition and auction catalogues, biographies and annotated catalogues, but also by visiting countless exhibitions, biennials such as Documenta and art fairs. But I would describe this training as a passion.

What advice would you give aspiring collectors?

Follow your heart, go through the world with open eyes, be open to new things and never lose your curiosity.

Your cooperation with ZHdK is coming to an end. What are your insights and lasting impressions?

The positive feedback from students! I was deeply touched by how they told their fellow students about the module week at the opening, guided them through the exhibition and talked about the individual works. During this week, they became experts on the exhibited artists and artworks. I find ZHdK a very inspiring place because it promotes young people’s development and learning. If I could go back in time, I would probably also study there.