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Méta-Matic nr 8. Méta-Moritz
© Jean Tinguely/Bildupphovsrätt 2026
Méta-Matic nr 8. Méta-Moritz
Méta-Matic nr 8. Méta-Moritz
Photo: Prallan Allsten/Moderna Museet

Méta-Matic nr 8. Méta-Moritz

by Jean Tinguely
Artist (Schweiz, 1925 - 1991)
Date1959
Dimensions37,5 x 68 x 37cm , sockel: 90,5 x 65 x 41cm
Classification
Countries
Credit LineInköp 1961
Object NumberNMSK 1782
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkJean Tinguely’s Méta-matic works are mechanical constructions that can generate infinite sequences of drawings. Tinguely made a series of machines, all based on the same principle, known in mathematics as lissajous curves. The first time a Méta-matic was exhibited in Paris in 1959, it was presented as a painting machine that visitors could activate themselves to have a painting generated for them. In doing so, Tinguely problematised and questioned the role of the artist, the artwork and the viewer. However, deliberately incorporated mechanical imperfections introduced irregularities into the works produced, a kind of structured randomness that suggests human expression. Méta-matic comments on Abstract Expressionist painting and positions itself alongside the works of Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, who work in the same spirit. Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerad (ristat och fingeravtryck) på drivhjulet: "TINGUELY" Selected exhibition history Explosion (den 2 juni 2012 - den 9 september 2012) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Bildmuseet - Dada och surrealism (2003) Bildmuseet, Umeå Jean Tinguely 1954-1972 (1972) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Tinguely 1954-1972 : Moderna Museet : 7 oktober - 3 december 1972Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992Jean Tinguely : "Méta" av K.G. Pontus Hultén : Moderna MuseetExplosion! Måleri som handling / Painting as Action : [Moderna Museet 2/6-9/9 2012] Bibliography The Machine, Museum of Modern Art, New York. Rubin, William S., Dada, Surrealism and Their Heritage, New York 1968, ill. s 23. Hultén, Pontus och Tinguely, Jean, A Magic Stronger that Death, Milano 1987, s 56, s 68, ill. s 58.