Zurich-based graphic designer and book designer Alexis Saile has been associated with Esther Eppstein since they attended the graphic design class in Lucerne together in 1989. Alexis Saile designed the programme posters for message salon on Ankerstrasse in 1996/1997, as well as the first message salon publication, which appeared in 1998.
At message salon on Rigiplatz, Alexis Saile now reveals his previously unknown side as an artist, which has always been part of his innermost being.
“Full throttle” is his not always happy motto in life. The artist longs for order and tranquillity, for meaning and happiness in a chaotic world that stirs up his inner feelings. Alexis Saile invites visitors to the message salon for a tea ceremony in his tea house, which, like the large lettering, was created on site over the course of a week. The hand-painted posters manifest the passionate, questioning, restless and stumbling spirit of the artist, which stands in contrast to the concentrated and conscious action of the tea ceremony.
During the vernissage, the message salon shop will be open, offering visitors the opportunity to view the publication “message salon Ankerstrasse 6”, which was released four years ago. Designed by Alexis Saile with timeless graphics, the publication is a cultural icon and a document of its time. The publication is out of print in bookshops, but is still available at the message salon shop or at the Scalo bookshop in Zurich for CHF 60.
Esther Eppstein, message salon, book and VHS cassette. Andreas Züst Verlag co Scalo Verlag Zurich, 1998. Graphics: Alexis Saile, photography: Manuela Ledermann, texts by Peter Weber, Simon Maurer, Golda Eppstein, Bob Fischer, Laurent Goei, Pipilotti Rist, Kerim Seiler, and others. The VHS video cassette “der message salon Fotoband” shows photos of vernissages at the message salon on Ankerstrasse, 1996/1997. Video: Esther Eppstein, sound: Stini Arn.