Swiss photographer Hannes Schmid adds new ideas to his experience at Formula One and turns the sport into a trans-cultural phenomenon and an art. UBS presents from 22 June to 17 July 2014 the exhibition of Schmid at Today Art Museum.

His works reveal that F1 is the art of speed with full meanings of science and technological innovation. It is an art of precise control of time and perfection of the car and the driver. The exhibition is Schmid's first presentation of the spirit and nature of this elite sport with his photographic works. The creative interactive methods help him to optimize the multimedia project "Permanent Moments". Schmid projects his photos and films on F1 to five huge moving sculptures. These sculptures remind us of the Bull's Eye, a famous sign of Raymond Loewy, American father of industrial design.

Schmid expressed the wish to collect photos from all visitors using an APP and he will select and incorporate these photos into the projection work. The 2-dimensional pictures of F1 racing and the 3-dimensional sculptures joint their hands to open the 4th dimension, which is occupied by time and space. It is the creation of a virtual, permanently moving body.

Hannes Schmid is closely connected to Chinese culture through family, his Chinese wife and two children. He envisions Momentous as a synthesis of two cultural spheres and invites visitors to consider interweaving approaches to art and philosophy from different cultures:

“In recent years it has become increasingly obvious to me how much Chinese civilization has influenced our own. I am interested in further exploring the future of this cultural exchange and this exhibition expresses above all the energy that this exchange generates.”

Alex Gao, Director of the Today Art Museum said: “It is our pleasure to present Hannes Schmid’s work to the visitors of Today Art Museum.

Momentous is one of the most important exhibitions at Today Art Museum this year. We hope our visitors enjoy this pioneering experiment in integrating art and social media in China."

The exhibition has been co-curated by Kornelia Imesch, art historian and professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture at the University of Lausanne and Jürg Wey. Accompanying public programmes at the Today Art Museum include an Artist Talk and Q&A with Schmid on 28 June 2014 discussing his current work, Momentous, his life and career.

Mr. Juerg Zeltner, CEO Wealth Management, UBS AG said: “UBS is delighted to have Momentous as an exciting addition to its global portfolio of art sponsorships. China is a key market for UBS so there is special resonance in being associated with the project in Beijing.

However, we seek to go beyond sponsorship to participate in the international conversation about art and in the global art market and to promote the cultural and creative development of art communities internationally.”

Today Art Museum

Building 4, Pingod Community
No.32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100024 China
Ph. +86 (o)10 58760600

Opening hours

Daily from 10am to 6pm
Closed during the Spring Festival

Related images

1 Hannes Schmid, Everlasting Moment #1, Short Stories (Formula 1), Video Still Short Stories, 2014
2 Hannes Schmid, Kraftwerk，Rockstars, 1981
3 Hannes Schmid, Jaques Villeneuve, Villa Cardin,Cannes, Palais Bulle, (Formula 1), 2002
4 & 6 Hannes Schmid, Installation images from the opening of Hannes Schmid’s Momentous, presented by UBS at the Today Art Museum, Beijing, Courtesy of UBS
5 Hannes Schmid, image of the artist