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Jean Tinguely
Crocrodrome
Model
1977
Material / technique: Wire, wood, fabric, chain of lights
Size: 70 x 125 x 65 cm
Inv.Number: 11246
Catalog: Bischofberger S. 88
Creditline: Museum Tinguely, Basel, Donation Niki de Saint Phalle
Behind the pseudonym “Zig et Puce“ are the artists who participated in this installation: Bernhard Luginbühl, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely and Daniel Spoerri, and their assistants, including Seppi Imhof, Rico Weber and Paul Wiedmer. With his “Cacadrome” Tinguely wanted to create a monumental country-fair-like installation for children and adults. The later title of the cultural station, which was designed to accompany the opening of the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 1977 and installed in the forum there, was “Crocrodrome“, making reference to the dragon-like figure. The jaws of the huge dragon head open and close in a slow rhythm. The serrations continue along the spine in the form of rods, wheels and neon lettering arranged by Jean Tinguely. Inside the structure is a haunted house amusement park ride. The rear section made of huge rusty metal plates and thick moving pipes was built by Bernhard Luginbühl. Between the creature’s legs – one of the hind legs is covered in chocolate – stands a later version of Tinguely’s “Ballet des pauvres“ and a gigantic pinball machine made by Bernhard Luginbühl out of rusty iron, which after the dismantling of the “Crocrodrome” was re-used in “Cyclop”. On one of the longer sides is a separate entrance through which the visitor reaches the sales kiosk “La boutique abérrante” and the “Musée sentimental”, a curiosity cabinet and fetish museum created by Daniel Spoerri. The artists began work on the “Crocrodrome“ in early March, but the final details were not completed by the time the museum opened on 1 June 1977. Instead, the artists continued to tinker with the piece, so that “Crocrodrome“ presented itself to the public as a work in progress up to the day of its destruction. An obituary was published to commemorate its dismantling, which took place in the night of 17 to 18 January 1978.
Pictures in our Collection
The following applies for uses of pictures in relation to our collection:
Museum Tinguely does not own any copyright in works by Jean Tinguely or other artists in the collection. The clarification of these rights and payment in respect of them is a matter for the applicant. In Switzerland, the collecting society responsible for this is ProLitteris, Zurich (link website: www.prolitteris.ch). Museum Tinguely undertakes no liability for third party claims arising from infringement of copyright and personality rights.
Collection of Museum Tinguely
Works and work groups belonging to all phases of Jean Tinguely’s career are to be found in the museum's collection. Along with selected temporary loans, they afford the visitor an extensive view of the artist’s career. Apart from sculptures, the collection furthermore comprises a large number of drawings and letter-drawings, documents, exhibition posters, catalogues and documentation such as photographs. In the measure of the possible all the exhibits are accessible to the public and regularly shown, be it in the permanent collection or as loans to exhibitions worldwide.
The museum’s collections are the result of a generous donation by the artist’s widow, Niki de Saint Phalle, made on the occasion of its foundation, a donation of works from the Roche collection, as well as several other gifts and acquisitions.
>> Biography of Jean Tinguely
>> History of the collection