Provenance:
Swiss Private Property, acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.

The installation "Palme" invites the viewer into Friedrich Kuhn's fantastically surreal world of images. The large-format assemblage combines Kuhn's colourful painting with sculptural elements and objects trouvés. The palm tree motif that dominates the picture can be described as the artist's trademark. It first appeared in 1964 and from 1968 onwards appeared everywhere in his works. The Swiss art historian Karl Jost wrote:

"The fact that the palm tree is not only a catchy motif, but also one that is easy to modify formally, inspired Kuhn to use it as a trademark and to rework it into a branded article: as a reproduction, as a plastic palm tree, as a multiple, as a pattern and ornament and - in countless variations - united to form a palm grove. With the exhibition "Die Palmen des Friedrich Kuhn", which Pierre Baltensperger organized in 1968 in the Kleines Kunstkabinett, the use of the motif reached its peak. Kuhn's palm trees have little to do with the traditional symbolism of victory, joy and peace; instead, they symbolize modern escape and dream worlds, yearning for exotic islands."

Karl Jost: "Friedrich Kuhn". In: SIKART Lexikon zur Kunst in der Schweiz, 2011.