A number of major exhibitions are on the horizon for 2008. The Gianadda Foundation of Martigny will again surprise us with its eclectic taste, mounting an exhibit of Balthus’s paintings and then later in the years, the work of Hans Erni. The connection, according to the foundation, has to do with birthdays, not their artistic approach. Balthus was well known for his mysterious and often sexually charged paintings of young girls. He lived in a chalet at Rossinière in central Switzerland. The Balthus exhibit will run from 13 June 2008 until 23 November. Erni’s renoun is more circumscribed – his imaginary landscapes and mythical figures will be shown from 28 November 2008 running until 1 March 2009.
In Zurich, the Kunsthaus will have a large exhibit of Honoré Daumier, running until 24 February, with a large assortment of drawings and watercolors from the master caricaturist.
In Lausanne, the Fondation Hermitage will mount a large show of over a hundred of Victor Hugo’s drawings, showing an impressive
and astonishing aspect of the famous novelist’s creative output. One can discover Hugo’s recourse to a diversity of techniques and materials such that some of his works appear to almost belong to the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. The exhibit opens 1 February 2008 and runs until 18 Mai 2008. Website link: http://www.fondation-hermitage.ch/
The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Berne is putting on a large exhibit of Hodler’s work – the largest such exhibit for roughly 50 years. Hodler is arguably the most famous Swiss painter, (1853-1918) and his work has been rapidly appreciating at auction, with some of his paintings recently selling for several million dollars. The exhibit at the Berne Kunsthaus will bring together 130 canvases, many of them 
monumental (in size, anyway) showing the evolution of the artist across all his periods and the important themes of his work. The exhibit opens 9 April 2008 and runs until 10 August 2008. Kunstmuseum Bern, Hodlerstrasse 8 – 12, 3000 Bern 7, Tel +41 31 328 09 44, Fax +41 31 328 09 55, info@kunstmuseumbern.ch. Website : http://www.kunstmuseumbern.ch
In 2007 the Barbier-Mueller celebrated its 30 years of existence. In 2008 they will be showing work from their collection from New Guinee and Oceania (through March 2008). The Musée d’art et Histoire in Geneva will be showing important works from the Barbier Mueller collection of antique art from 15 May through 31 August 2008.
Meanwhile, in Basel (in the suburb Riehen) the Beyeler Foundation will be mounting an exhibition called ‘Action Painting’ exploring gestural painting and featuring important work by Jackson Pollock, Arshile Gorky, de Wols, Morris Louis, Lee Krasner, and Pierre Soulage. The exhibit opens 27 January and closes 12 May 2008. In June, an exhibit of Fernand Léger with over a hundred works, will follow presenting work from Làger’s youth marked by strong cubist influences, and leading up to his later, more serene work. The Leger exhibit will run from 1 June through 7 September 2008. Beyeler Foundation, Baselstrasse 101, CH-4125 Riehen / Basel, Phone +41 - (0)61 - 645 97 00, Fax +41 - (0)61 - 645 97 19, Infoline (prerecorded message): +41 - (0)61 - 645 97 77, e-mail fondation@beyeler.com Website at http://www.beyeler.com
