Reaper. Richard Hamilton and Sigfried Giedion

The exhibition “Reaper. Richard Hamilton und Sigfried Giedion” brings together two different figures in the history of twentieth century art and architecture. English artist Richard Hamilton is represented by his early series of “Reaper works” (1949), inspired by Sigfried Giedion’s publication “Mechanization Takes Command” (1948) in which the Swiss art historian describes the advancing mechanisation of everyday life. The exhibition at the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich is the first to juxtapose the entire “Reaper” cycle with selected visual works from Giedion, clearly addressing the process of academic research behind Hamilton’s creative approach.

This exhibition straddling the boundary of art and architecture has also prompted a recalibration of the exhibition layout at Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich. New walls and showcases were specially commissioned for the “Reaper” exhibition, with renowned architect and ETH Professor Adam Caruso responsible for the design.

The double jubilee of the 150th anniversary of the Collection of Prints and Drawings and the 50th anniversary of the Institute for History and Theory of Architecture (gta) at ETH Zürich is marked by this collaboration with the gta exhibition team and archives. Curators Linda Schädler, Head of the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Fredi Fischli and Niels Olsen, Head of gta exhibitions, Filine Wagner of the gta archives and Carson Chan, of Princeton, have all worked closely together in contributing to both the exhibition and the catalogue
Supported by the Sigfried Giedion Foundation, the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation and the Dr. Georg and Josi Guggenheim Foundation.