Franz and Hohler – Olten Congratulates on the Eightieth

Four exhibitions, two museums, and two publications between two covers. The turning book "Franz and Hohler. Olten Congratulates on the Eightieth" examines the work and inspiring creativity of the Swiss author, stage artist, musician, and activist from both an artistic and a biographical-historical perspective.

No matter how you look at it – the encounter with Franz Hohler and his work always turns into a small fireworks display. Franz Hohler and his hometown Olten share a deep, unwavering love, despite all critical distance. For his eightieth birthday, two municipal museums – the Historical Museum and the Art Museum – have come together to present Hohler's universe in all its richness through four exhibitions. This double volume contains a synthesis of these projects: a spectacular reading, picture, and thought book tracing Hohler's imagination.

"It’s all so nice." Franz Hohler in the Mirror of Time
Historical Museum Olten

One half of the book takes the exhibition "It’s all so nice" at the Historical Museum Olten as its starting point and brings together personal texts from writer friends such as Silvio Blatter, Alex Capus, Judith Keller, Pedro Lenz, Klaus Merz, and Rebekka Salm. Contributions from Christine Lötscher, Professor of Popular Culture and Children's Literature, Philipp Theisohn, Professor of Modern German Literature, and Hansueli von Allmen, founder of the Cabaret Archive Gwatt, illuminate Hohler's entire body of work from various perspectives. Their shared conclusion: Hohler's work uniquely reflects the recent history of Switzerland.

"Hello. Good day. Or good night." Hohler's Universe in the Mirror of Art
Art Museum Olten

From the other side, readers gain a richly illustrated insight into the three projects of the Art Museum.