Fabrice Hyber

Fabrice Hyber (*1961) is one of the world's most renowned French artists. His inspiration for his artworks is rooted in observations of nature's cycles and transformations in his environment. This is especially visible in his famous project "La Vallée", which he started in 1990 when he bought 100 hectares of land surrounding his childhood home in the rural West of France. The artist has been restoring the land to its natural state ever since and encapsulates this process in his art. This book chronicles the exhibition of his work, a two-part cooperation between the Kunstmuseum Thun and Kunstmuseum Thurgau. It features 42 of Hyber's paintings and sculptures, as well as objects the artist calls "POF" (Prototypes d'Objects en Fonctionnement). These artworks showcase the Hyber's unique way of portraying the complex relationship between humans and nature in vivid colours, organic materials, and installations. Reminiscent of a scientist's work, Hyber's canvasses are not only filled with paint but formulae, texts, and sketches resembling diagrams that represent his artistic process. In this connection, he enables the recipients to reflect on their understanding of nature and agriculture, thereby inspiring the creation of new perspectives and a newfound appreciation for natural products and dynamics. Texts by curators Helen Hirsch (Kunstmuseum Thun) and Stefanie Hoch (Kunstmuseum Thurgau), as well as curator Chiara Ottavi's interview with Fabrice Hyber complement the publication.