Swiss contemporary artist Ugo Rondinone’s retrospective Cry Me a River is being held at the Kunstmuseum Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland. The “river” in the title of the exhibition refers to the River Reuss, which flows into Lake Lucerne in front of the museum. The exhibited works resonate not only with the gallery space, but also with the natural surroundings of the museum. 

Through this exhibition, Rondinone contemplates upon the significance of his place of origin in relation to his artistic practice, connecting with the artistic lineage of the Swiss inland region known as “Innerschweizer Innerlichkeit,” which emerged in the early 1970s in central Switzerland. Marking Rondinone’s return from New York to his home country, Cry Me a River brings together extensive and multifaceted works spanning over the past 30 years.

Among the presented works, stone figures, inspired by helpful signposts in the mountains, comprises four large-scale sculptures that surpass human size, dominating the exhibition space and overwhelming the visitors. primal, consisting of 59 small-scale bronze sculptures in the shape of horses, evokes prehistoric artifacts unearthed by archaeologists. Such play with dimension is a recurring element in Rondinone's work. Additionally, two paintings depicting the day and night landscapes of Lake Lucerne are also on display, capturing the beauty of his homeland.

Cry Me a River encompasses Rondinone's reinterpretation of familiar and intuitive motifs through traditional materials and methods, bridging the gap between viewers and his artworks. This retrospective continues through October 20.