Under the title Museum of Desires, which is well-known in the artworld, Museum Haus Konstruktiv presents a wish list of works for its in-house collection. As an internationally renowned museum of constructivist, concrete and conceptual art, and as a recognized institution for critical incorporation and propagation of Zurich’s heritage, we desire additional key works by the Zurich Concretists for our collection and are explicitly making these desires public for the first time.

For over 30 years, Museum Haus Konstruktiv has devoted itself to the artistic heritage of the Zurich Concretists. The museum was founded in 1986 by dedicated individuals from the milieu of the internationally renowned Zurich movement of constructivist and concrete art. The core group of Zurich Concretists consisted of Max Bill (1908–1994), Camille Graeser (1892–1980), Verena Loewensberg (1912–1986) and Richard Paul Lohse (1902–1988). Their oeuvres and ideas constitute the DNA of Museum Haus Konstruktiv and the echo chamber of our engagement with contemporary art. Their works are of substantial value to our institution. Ever since it was founded, the museum has continually made high-quality additions to its collection, so now, thanks to generous donations, it comprises around 1000 outstanding works from the 20th and 21st centuries. However, the museum lacks the financial means to purchase further key works by the Zurich Concretists.

In the rooms on the fifth floor at Museum Haus Konstruktiv, the current exhibition presents paintings and sculptures from the various periods in the oeuvres of these pioneering artists. They demonstrate how many aspects of contemporary art, such as reduction, minimalism, formal stringency and chance, were already applied in the works of the Zurich Concretists.

Our thanks go to all the Swiss collections that are making their works available to us for the duration of the exhibition. We also sincerely thank the artists, heirs, foundations and private collectors who, by means of generous donations and permanent loans, have enhanced Museum Haus Konstruktiv's art trove with outstanding works that reflect the specific orientation of our institution. With the exhibition Museum of Desires, our hope is to create a new awareness of our mediation work, and that important works by the Zurich Concretists can be added to the collection with the support of artists, collectors, patrons and donors.