Stefan, you are a father and have a challenging job. Nevertheless, you are involved as Vice President on the board of the Galerieverein. What motivated you to do this?

I have always felt a close connection to the art museum, as I often visited the exhibitions with my parents as a child – sometimes of my own accord, but more often out of family obligation… Today, I very much appreciate being able to actively contribute to the well-being of the museum as a member of the board of the Galerieverein. This role offers me exciting insights into cultural life in Winterthur and I enjoy the inspiring dialogue at the Galerieverein’s events. Such encounters help broaden my horizons on a personal, cultural and sometimes culinary level. It is a special privilege to be able to participate on the board – even if it is sometimes challenging in terms of scheduling.

Your absolute favourite artist is Giorgio Morandi, of whom we have several works in the collection. What fascinates you about this artist?

Giorgio Morandi spent almost his entire life in his hometown of Bologna, where his modest flat also served as a studio. It was in this environment that he created his minimalist still lifes, which focussed on simple everyday objects such as bottles, vases and bowls. He constantly rearranged these objects in a soft colour palette of beige, grey, white and pastel shades.

This lifelong concentration on the essentials also made a deep impression on Manfred Schoch, an artist from Winterthur who is a friend of our family. As I was able to gather from ‘Mascho’ Schoch’s notebook, after a visit to Bologna – I can only recommend a trip to this city and to Morandi’s flat – he created three paintings inspired by Morandi’s works, which I was able to purchase. Schoch turned three bottles into three squares, which he depicted differently.

What significance does art have in your life?

For me, the story of Morandi and Manfred Schoch shows the impressive power of art: travelling, aesthetic demands, friendships, biographies and stories interweave and underline the central role that art can play in every life.

What ideas do you have for the development of the Galerieverein as Vice President?

The Galerieverein has a solid foundation. It is a pleasure to see how many people take part in our guided tours. Personally, I hope that the number of our members will continue to grow and that we can attract new people who are interested in art. As a music lover, I could also imagine a combination with a live concert. There are grand pianos in the museum Beim Stadthaus and Reinhart am Stadtgarten…