Can art emerge from a commission? The answer is yes for all those who have asked PB for a custom creation, concentrating their passions, emotions, and personal objects.
Commissioned Works
"Sfitsy"
To illustrate the activities of SFITS (Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery), a bisexual humanoid gathers all the necessary objects for surgical operations (scalpels, forceps, retractors...) and welcomes visitors and future surgeons on the top floor of the HUG in Geneva.
Hauteur : 180 cm
"Shakespeare's Booth"
A telephone booth on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's hometown, commissioned by the owner of the MAD Museum (Museum of Kinetic Art) located on the same street.
PB pays tribute to the great writer by animating various objects that showcase different aspects of his life.
PB pays tribute to the great writer by animating various objects that showcase different aspects of his life.
"The Universal Machine"
Four sculptures installed in the museum of a major watchmaking company in the Vallée de Joux in 2023, illustrating the creation of an ultra-complicated watch.
Each sculpture represents a stage:
1. "Ideas"
2. "Creators"
3. "Complications"
4. "Production"
More details in this 24Heures article
"The Bull's Revenge"
Kinetic sculpture based on a bull by sculptor Gite iEMFRé, paying tribute to all bulls cowardly slaughtered during bullfights. (2024)
"Swiss Know-how"
In 1947, an engineer from Scintilla in Skt. Niklaus invented the first jigsaw.To commemorate this event, Bosch AG, which acquired Scintilla, commissioned a mobile made of numerous elements collected from the factory, including a model of the first jigsaw.
Height: 240 cm
Length: 190 cm
Depth: 80 cm
"ReMemBer"
Schüpbach SA in Biel wanted to gather various elements from its range in a kinetic sculpture: ball bearings, watchmaking supplies, etc.
Based on an old Tornos lathe, numerous objects are set in motion and displayed in the shop window on Rue du Milieu in Biel.
"Impossible gears" were specially created for this mobile, designed after the RMB logo of a bearing brand.
By pressing a button in front of the window, passers-by can activate the sculpture.
Height: 220 cm
Length: 190 cm
Depth: 90 cm
The "mobiLions"
Three key Lions Club themes are represented: "Sharing the vision," "Relieving hunger," and "Protecting the environment."
A coin slot allows the public to make donations, setting the modules in motion. All collected funds are donated to charities, whose names are displayed.
"MobiLions" was exhibited at various locations across Switzerland during its first year, including Sion, Zermatt, Verbier, and Crans-Montana.
Height: 250 cm
Length: 500 cm
Depth: 240 cm
More details in this 24Heures article
During its first year, it was possible to activate the "mobiLions" online by making a donation, which triggered the modules.
Two webcams allowed viewers to see the various elements move, and their names appeared on the screen!
"Sharing"
The association "Calories for Life" wanted a kinetic sculpture to present at events, attracting the public and showcasing its concept in a playful way.
A crank on the right activates the movements, and the "calories" (in the form of balls) pass from the wealthy person's plate to that of the needy.
Height: 130 cm
Width: 80 cm
Depth: 50 cm
Website of the association "Calories for Life"
"imaGine"
Giovanna/Ginox moved from its old factory in Clarens to a brand-new building in the heights of Montreux.During the move, I collected many parts and machines, including an old roller, which served as the base for this kinetic sculpture full of memories, inaugurated during the company's 140th-anniversary celebration.
Height: 300 cm Length: 280 cm
Depth: 110 cm
In the entrance hall:
To the right, under the screen showcasing Ginox's achievements, a large bay window allows visitors to see the vast, bright workshops."The Sun of Vaudois Terroir"
"Art
de vivre, pays de Vaud, pays de terroirs" decided to add movement to its stand at the "Grüne Woche" exhibition in Berlin in January 2009, where it was honoured.Several "departments" coexist in an animated carousel: agriculture, viticulture, cheese, tourism, and watchmaking, based on a four-wheeled plough illuminated by the rays of a large wheel from an agricultural "Sun."
Height: 230 cm Length: 220 cm Width: 100 cm
Detail from the back
Here is the "Wines" department: four small bottles rotate on a cake plate carousel, surrounded by corkscrews and vine shoots, topped with a mini-basket used during the last Winegrowers' Festival and a Vaudois jug full of springs.
At the Swiss stand
Under the banners "Grüzi Berlin," the mobile sculpture as seen from behind.
Inauguration
During the exhibition's inauguration: surprised discussion between Mrs Mariann Fischer Boel, European Agriculture Minister, and Mr Jean-Claude Mermoud, Vaud State Councillor."The Wassmer-Lamp"
Edouard Wassmer, passionate owner of the "Swiss Sewing Machine and Unusual Object Museum," commissioned a special piece adorned with several items from his collection, swirling around a "Pfaff" sewing machine table.The Wassmer-Lamp (in situ)
It now adorns a wall of Café du Gothard in Fribourg (Rue du Pont-Muré 16, near the cathedral), an old and charming establishment.http://www.museewassmer.com
"The Kinetic Poya"
To accompany its collection of painted cows, the Gruyère Restoroute, on the Vevey - Fribourg motorway, commissioned a kinetic sculpture that plays with elements of the local culture: poya, fondue, cream, bells, kitchen utensils, etc.
All of these have been combined on an old cheese press and come to life when intrigued visitors press the button.
Height: 240 cm Length: 260 cm
Gruyère Restoroute, Avry-devant-Pont
The Kinetic Poya: detail
About thirty black and white cows frolic in all directions."Action"
To gift her husband, a Chinese actress and producer gathered several of her personal items. The main theme, of course, is cinema. This kinetic sculpture features a transformed camera and a stripped-down projector – a new way to experience the seventh art!Private collection in Beijing, China
Width: 120 cm
"Swiss Perfection"
Creating a kinetic sculpture for Clinique La Prairie in Clarens was quite the challenge, as their product line is named "Swiss Perfection." Numerous bottles, tubes, and vials swirl and twirl around a sheep.Placed in front of a large white wall, the sculpture casts a shadow ballet, multiplying playful effects.
Coll. Clinique "La Prairie," Clarens/Montreux
Height without base: 180 cm
"Carlo's Three Lives"
An Italian resident of Oakland (USA), visiting Montreux, commissioned a mobile sculpture for his coffee roasting business. He sent me a large box filled with used coffee machine parts.Since he once worked with lifts and recently opened a wine shop, I combined everything to represent his "three lives."
"I Couldn't Care Less"
A good old Berkel scale, which enjoyed a happy life in a pastry shop, has become the sign for Bettexmatic outside my home, where it enjoys a stunning view of the lake.A testament to quality: it survived the 2005 hailstorm unscathed, gently continuing to turn while large nearby fir trees collapsed.
Height: 160 cm
"pharmalabo.komm"
To catch the eye of passers-by, the Tour d'Ivoire pharmacy in Montreux animated its window display. Mr. Christian Neukomm, rummaging through his stockroom, provided numerous old objects full of history, now given a second life.A switch on the outside awaits just the press of your finger to reveal its secrets.
Width: 120 cm
"Ferrarissima III"
For a Ferrari and horse-riding enthusiast.Height: 95 cm