André Thomkins
Born in 1930.
Died in 1985.
André Thomkins (1930–1985) was a Swiss artist whose practice encompassed painting, drawing, sculpture, poetry and writing. He studied at the School of Applied Arts in Lucerne, followed by the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. Based in Germany from 1952 onwards, he developed an independent practice informed by Dada and Surrealism without committing himself to any particular movement.
He explored wordplay, unexpected associations and the transformation of ordinary forms into enigmatic images. His works often combine precision of line, humour and strangeness; he also produced objects, reliefs and installations. A significant part of his practice took shape through exchanges with other artists and intellectuals, as evidenced by his extensive writings and correspondence.
The manuscript holdings preserved at SIK-ISEA include documents relating to his projects and exhibitions, as well as extensive correspondence with major figures in the contemporary art scene. Sketchbooks and letters to Peter Storrer have also been catalogued and digitised. This diversity of media demonstrates how closely writing, drawing and visual thought are intertwined in his work.
