Two individuals were thus instrumental in bringing about the founding of the Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung in 1975: Margrit Probst and Harald Szeemann. The foundation’s object is “to administer and ensure the preservation of the work of the Bernese painter and graphic artist, Adolf Wölfli, to acquire additional works by Wölfli, to inventory as many of Wölfli’s works as possible, to promote research projects, and where feasible to make the works accessible to the public.” Elka Spoerri, curator of the collection from 1975 to 1996, sifted through Wölfli’s vast oeuvre and made it known internationally in numerous exhibitions and publications. From 1996 to 2014 the Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung was run by Daniel Baumann, who did much to foster dialogue between Wölfli and the contemporary art scene. After a brief intermezzo with Nadia Schneider Willen at the helm, Hilar Stadler took over as curator of the Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung at Kunstmuseum Bern in December 2015.
Foundation
Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung
The Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung was founded in 1975 and has administered the estate of the “writer, poet, graphic artist, and composer” Adolf Wölfli (1864–1930) ever since. It ensures that his works are properly preserved and kept accessible to the public, whether in exhibitions or publications. The Stiftung is hosted by Kunstmuseum Bern, as it has been since its founding. The works of Adolf Wölfli, initially an outsider in every sense of the word, today form one of the highlights of Kunstmuseum Bern.
FOUNDATION AND OBJECT
An interpellation on the part of Margrit Probst and two co-signatories (P. Rohrbach, R. Briner) submitted to Bern City Council on September 14, 1972 inquired whether “Wölfli’s complete oeuvre” might be made accessible “in a worthy manner to the people (to whom alone it belongs).” In the summer of that same year, Swiss curator Harald Szeemann had exhibited Wölfli’s 25,000-page oeuvre at the now-legendary documenta 5 in Kassel. In doing so, he had not only introduced Wölfli to the international art world, but he had also made the Bernese aware of the barely heeded treasure in their possession. The interpellation of Margrit Probst (who together with Carlo Lischetti, Polo Hofer, and Pierre Hänni belonged to the subversive “Härdlütli Partei”) and perhaps even more so the publicity attracted by Wölfli’s works at documenta 5, led to the formation of a “Wölfli Working Committee” in Bern. At its recommendation, the complete works were first placed in the safekeeping of Kunstmuseum Bern in 1973 and then entrusted to the newly founded Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung in 1975.
Board of Trustees
Claudia Jolles (Chair)
Daniel Baumann, Director / Curator Kunsthalle Zürich
Rosemarie Burri
Nadine Franci, Management of prints and drawings, Kunstmuseum Bern
Dr. André von Graffenried
Alicia Soiron
Prof. Werner K. Strik
Dr. Nina Zimmer, Director Kunstmuseum Bern - Zentrum Paul Klee
Hilar Stadler, Curator Adolf Wölfli-Stiftung
