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Meret OppenheimGerman-Swiss surrealist artist
Date of Birth: 06.10.1913
Country:  Switzerland |
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Biography of Meret Oppenheim
German-Swiss Surrealist ArtistMeret Oppenheim was a German-Swiss surrealist artist who gained worldwide recognition in Paris and New York. She was born in Basel, Switzerland, and was raised by her grandmother, Lisa Wenger, a renowned Swiss writer. At the age of 18, in 1932, Oppenheim traveled to Paris, where she became closely associated with artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Jean Arp, and Man Ray. They showed interest in her work and invited her to participate in the Salon des Indépendants exhibition in 1933.
Oppenheim, with her charming and unconventional appearance, became a prominent figure among the surrealists and was considered their muse. She joined the Parisian surrealist group in 1933, where she developed close relationships with André Breton, Marcel Duchamp, and Max Ernst. Oppenheim also posed as a model for Man Ray's famous nude photography series.
The Fur-lined Teacup
In May 1936, Oppenheim participated in an exhibition of surrealist objects at the Charles Ratton Gallery in Paris. Her artwork, the "Fur-lined Teacup," created in the same year, caused a sensation and became the highlight of the exhibition season in Paris and New York. The brown furry cup, saucer, and spoon, ironically referred to as the "Fur-lined Teacup," combined elements of absurdism, sexual undertones, and mockery of common sense. It became a classic example of surrealist art and influenced several generations of surrealist artists, including Salvador Dalí.
Later Years
By the late 1930s, the surrealist movement had evolved, and its members had shifted their focus from rebellion to commercial success and societal acceptance. Oppenheim's success with her surrealist objects marked a turning point, but it also led to a period of depression as she struggled to replicate her previous achievements. In 1937, she left Paris and returned to Basel, where she enrolled in an art college and actively participated in the activities of the Basel artistic group known as "Group 33."
In 1939, Oppenheim returned to Paris and participated in a surrealistic furniture exhibition with Leonor Fini and Max Ernst. She presented her new artwork, the "Table with Bird's Legs," which perfectly embodied the essence of surrealism.
In 1945, Oppenheim met Wolfgang La Roche, and they moved to Bern in 1948, marrying a year later. In Bern, Oppenheim rented a large studio and focused on her artwork. Although she did not achieve the same level of success as her earlier years, she continued to work and exhibit her art independently. In 1959, Andre Breton invited Oppenheim to reproduce her artwork, "Spring Festival," for the surrealistic exhibition "E.R.O.S." held at the Daniel Cordier Gallery in Paris. This installation featured a fully naked woman with a dinner table set for six on her body, embodying scandal, sexuality, and absurdity.
Oppenheim's last major exhibition was a retrospective of her work at the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm in 1967. She continued to work and exhibit until her death in 1985. In the years leading up to her passing, Oppenheim received academic recognition, with the Berlin Academy of Arts accepting her as a member shortly before her death. In Switzerland, an art prize was established in her name, honoring her contributions to the art world.
