Nathalie Du Pasquier (*1957) and Olivier Mosset (*1944) are internationally recognized abstract painters who have known each other for several years but have not yet had the opportunity to exhibit together. The idea of ​​bringing the two together is due to local circumstances: on the one hand, Mosset is the author of a well-camouflaged public sculpture located directly opposite the Kunsthaus Biel (Untitled (à Paul Cézanne), 2000-2004). On the other hand, Du Pasquier, who worked for a long time as a designer for the Memphis group, has designed two Swatch models that are manufactured in the watchmaking city. The pair's discreet presence in Biel seemed pretext enough to consider a dialogue between their artistic practices. Both appreciate each other's work and have a particular penchant for collaborations. Although their work is very different, they share a common attitude that combines their interest in the history of the avant-garde with a playful spirit. The invitation to a joint exhibition becomes a discussion about abstract painting: its historical burden, its decorative horizon, its "commodification" or its relationship to language. The two make the contrasting typology of the Kunsthaus spaces their own on three levels. The institutional and architectural context of the exhibition is an essential part of the perception of the work and is reflected in the title of the exhibition, which completes the sum of the two artistic practices: 1 + 1 = 3.

With the support of the Fondation Bonhôte pour l'art contemporain.