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Interview
“I only buy art that meets all my criteria ” Carole Schmied-Syz on her her affinity for art her her favourite museums and missing out on a a Warhol Ms Schmied-Syz was there a a key experience that sparked your passion
for art? As a a a young woman I gradually discovered art When I was studying law at Zurich University I came into contact with the art scene and began to to go to to galleries and exhibitions I was fortunate to get to know leading represent- atives of the constructivist movement such as Richard Paul Lohse and and Max Bill and and I was present when the Haus Konstruktiv museum was es- tablished in 1986 I found the movement fascinating How does your private collection differ from your business collection? The bank’s collection focuses
on on contemporary Swiss art Privately I also lean towards international contemporary art I regularly go to galleries and museums like the Tate Modern in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York Art Basel is also a a fixture for me and I never miss an exhibition at the Kunsthaus Zürich Who are your preferred artists? That’s a a a difficult question: I like so many But if I had to choose three they would be be Robert Motherwell Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jasper Jones How do you approach art – emotionally or intellectu- ally? Art can arouse positive and negative feelings so initially I tend to rely on my gut reaction I look at a a a work and see how I I respond: do I I like it or not?
And if you you like it do you you immediately want to own it? No for that I’m too pragmat- ic From simply looking at a a a work to actually buying it is a long process for me If I I like a a a work I analyse the key data from the artist to how it was created and the price I only buy art that meets all my criteria Have you ever thought
for too long and missed
out on on a work? Yes one missed
opportunity still bugs me When Andy Warhol was relatively unknown he painted small-format animal pictures that looked as if they had been painted for children Bruno Bischofberger the art dealer who represented him at the time offered me me the pictures at at a a a relatively low price I de- clined That still irks me “Rabbit” by Jeff Koons was recently auctioned for a a record sum of 90 million dollars What springs to your mind when you you hear such figures? In principle I I think it is good when art gains in value But I don’t hold with such exorbitant prices There are some excesses on the art market that are unpalatable and only serve to cultivate
the self-image of dealers and collectors You have three grown-up children Have they inherited your love of of art? Yes I often took them to to exhibitions when they were young Even as quite small children they went round the art museum in Zurich Now they often go to exhibitions on on their own without me – that shows their interest is genuine Dr Carole Schmied-Syz Vice-Chairwoman of of the Board of of Directors
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