My favourite: Alberto Giacometti, The cat

The Kunstmuseum Basel’s collections comprise ca. 4,000 paintings, sculptures, videos, and works of installation art, as well as the ca. 300,000 drawings and prints from seven centuries held by the Kupferstichkabinett. And around 200 people work at the Kunstmuseum Basel in a wide variety of professions - full-time, part-time, on an hourly basis. Some of them present their favourite works from the collection here.

1. What is your name and what is your role at the Kunstmuseum Basel?
Sabina Gauch, partial assortment support in the museum shop with focus on development and production of exclusive products for exhibitions and the collection.

2. Job description
Some faster, others a little more leisurely, lost in thought or having a cheerful conversation: after a visit to the museum, at some point every astonished art lover moves towards the exit. To ensure that the unforgettable moments among the famous works are preserved for a long time, many visitors wish they had a small souvenir to take home with them. The art experience can be prolonged in a pleasant way by browsing through our shop before the inspired guest passes through the large revolving door and disappears into the world.

3. What's your favorite work?
Alberto Giacometti, The Cat, 1951

4. Why?
When I look at "Le chat", it seems as if Giacometti had anticipated the 3D printing process and sketched the essence of a cat directly into bronze. I am impressed by the ease with which he captured the grace and, in a pointed way, the obstinate nature of the cat.
Cast in heavy metal and yet fragile and as alive as if it were to meander through the galleries with visitors the next moment, Giacometti's Le chat represents the fragility and transience of all life, and at the same time its power and beauty, which must be protected.