Art Gallery Rolf Knie - Welcome with Free Admission
The circus, with its bright colors, joyful clowns, captivating acrobatics, and exotic animals, delights young and old. You can experience all of this with Rolf Knie – but not in the ring, rather in the artist's gallery. Colorful, expressive paintings, as well as fascinating graphics, art prints, lithographs, and sculptures bring circus dreams to life.
Just come by and let yourself be transported into the fantastic world of circus imagery!
From Circus to Art
Upon entering Rolf Knie's gallery, visitors immediately feel as if they are in a fairy-tale circus world: clowns and performers, circus animals, and other popular circus motifs captivate and astonish. The artist's fascination with the circus is no coincidence. After all, Knie, as the son of the director of the Swiss National Circus, Fredy Knie Senior, was immersed in circus life from an early age. He first performed as a clown in the ring at the age of five. At 18, he dropped out of business school to fully dedicate himself to his circus career. In the following years, he worked as a clown, equestrian artist, and animal trainer. In 1978, he discovered his passion for painting. Deeply influenced by the powerful colors and magic of the ring, he brought the circus world to paper, creating his first naturalistic watercolors. The autodidact learned the craft of the artist from the well-known painter Hans Falk, who accompanied the circus for several years. In 1980, he held his first solo exhibition in Zurich. Rolf Knie last donned the costume of a circus clown in 1984. Today, alongside his artistic activities, he is also involved as a circus entrepreneur and producer with the winter circus "Salto Natale" and the love circus "Ohlala."
Text from the book "100 Things You Must Experience in Rapperswil-Jona!" published by match index GmbH
Dive into the Colorful Circus World of Rolf Knie
Would you like to be captivated by the vibrant, imaginative world of the circus? It's easier than you think! Rolf Knie's permanent exhibition in Rapperswil-Jona is open to the public, and admission is free. Let cheerful clowns bring a smile to your face, explore the world of proud circus animals, and admire the brave acrobats and performers! In approximately 500 square meters, you can discover elephants, zebras, tigers, monkeys, lions, horses, and much more. If a painting is sold, it is promptly replaced with a new one, ensuring constant variety and surprises.
Not only individual visitors and families benefit here; groups and school classes are also warmly welcomed and can learn about the history of the artworks and the artist through a guided tour. If you wish to adorn your home with a piece of art by Rolf Knie after visiting the gallery, you will find plenty of options. The art prints, graphics, lithographs, and sculptures can be admired and purchased in the gallery. And for those looking for a souvenir or a gift for friends and family, there are numerous items featuring prints of the artworks, including umbrellas, bags, calendars, watches, cards, porcelain, glasses, textiles, coffee mugs, and many more that bring a piece of circus magic into your home. At special events where the latest artworks are presented, you may even have the chance to meet the artist personally.
Text: Annerose Sieck
The Passion and Dedication of Rolf Knie is the Circus
His life shows the many facets and stages of the circus world; after all, Knie was born into the creative cosmos of the fascinating world of the ring. He presents himself as artistically transparent and human, authentically so.
Whether as a clown, performer, actor, or comedic protagonist in various television and theater productions, or for eleven years as the initiator – alongside his son Gregory – in front of the audience of the winter circus "Salto Natale," or now in his fourth year as the producer of the love circus "Ohlala."
Rolf Knie constantly pushes boundaries. He seeks a direct dialogue between the audience and the viewer, always creating new definitions of his theme. The artists, acrobats, clowns, and exotic animals, as well as his own experiences and life in the circus world, are all reflected in his visual art. He performs as an artist in front of an audience much like a creator in front of a canvas.
This raises the question of how performing arts can be reconciled with visual arts. How might one manifest the concept of "art"? Ultimately, everything intertwines for Rolf Knie. He manages to balance between genres – it cannot be more empathetic and immediate. Rolf Knie's extensive body of work, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings, has entered prestigious collections. Exhibitions both nationally and internationally affirm his success and position in contemporary art.
