Coatings

The installation at Kunstmuseum St. Gallen refers to coating/enveloping as a textile element that wraps itself around a structure, softening it and creating an intimate relationship. Here, the masonry envelope (Mauermantel) turns inward, opening up. The slight bulging of the fabric panels creates moments of snuggling—as if the wall itself were moving forward to make contact. The textile material becomes a physical membrane that conveys closeness, protection, and touch at the same time. 
Coatings makes material-oriented research visible and invites to perceive the architecture of the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen as something physical, soft, and mobile.

The installation is shown from January 9, 2026–January 3, 2027 and was curated by Gianni Jetzer and made possible with the great work of the team at Kunstmuseum. It was also generously supported by the Zürcherischen Seidenindustrie Gesellschaft, Zurich, and Tisca Tischhauser, Bühler. 

Photos: Stefan Rohner for Kunstmuseum St. Gallen

Coatings, 2026

installation at Kunstmuseum St. Gallen
Textile, metal rods.
ca. 8 x 10 meters.

© Marie Schumann