At the Fondation Beyeler near Basel (source in German), visitors entered the Cezanne exhibition in bikinis, swimming costumes and swimming trunks.
Everyone who had the courage to come in swimwear saved the entrance fee of 25 Swiss francs – around 27 euros – on 1 May.
Some art enthusiasts even wore swimming caps, walked barefoot and sat in the sun in the museum garden in the most beautiful weather.
Museum visitor Julien Rondez was sceptical at first, but got carried away. The 34-year-old graphic artist told AFP: “I think it’s pretty absurd, but I actually quite like the idea and I think it’s a bit daring for a museum to organise something like this. Then I thought to myself: well, I’ll just play along and come.”
Man and nature are interwoven
The “Day of the Bathers” event was conceived by the renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
It is intended to complement the current exhibition of works by the French post-impressionist Paul Cézanne. Cézanne’s famous series “The Bathers” shows naked figures – embedded in nature – with body and landscape closely interwoven.
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The museum aims to open up a dialogue between art and viewers and to introduce a touch of humour and freedom.
Ana Lopes is an architect, the Portuguese artist lives in Basel and came to the Fondation Beyeler in a one-piece swimming costume. She is enthusiastic: “You can sense in Cézanne’s paintings that he was inspired by nature and wanted to express this organic experience of nature and people. Wearing swimwear comes close to this, as you are almost naked.”
Many visitors agreed that the concept successfully breaks the traditional museum rules. The organisers hope that people will continue to feel encouraged to playfully leave their comfort zone and experience art in a new way.
The Cezanne exhibition in Basel runs until 25 May 2026.
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