The week before last, the purpose of the Bührle Foundation suddenly changed: the addition“in the city of Zurich” was cancelled from one day to the next in the commercial register. This means that the controversial art collection no longer has to be exhibited in Zurich in future.

In the amendment application to the foundation supervisory authority, which is now publicly accessible, the foundation gives more than just one reason for the deletion of the“Zurich” addition: on several pages, it expresses unequivocal criticism of its location.

Since the Bührle Collection was exhibited in the new Chipperfield building, there has been“an unprecedented media and political controversy”. The foundation has had to put up with“massive accusations”, ranging from ethical and moral misconduct to anti-Semitism.

The foundation and the Kunstgesellschaft were also pressurised to make the permanent loan agreement publicly accessible and ultimately to negotiate a new one. In doing so, the Zurich city administration made demands in terms of content.

For the foundation, this“official interference” in a private, cultural institution in the previously liberal Swiss museum environment is“unprecedented”.

The negative impact of the controversy on the foundation and the Kunsthaus is“enormous”. Whether a further presentation is still possible and justifiable under these circumstances“is currently uncertain”. If necessary, the foundation will have to examine new options.

This content was published on Jul 17, 2024 The Bührle collection, on loan to the Kunsthaus Zurich fine art museum, is“historically tainted, on a scale that is possibly unique in Switzerland”, says historian Raphael Gross.