The Festi in Ligerz: an artists’ meeting place above Lake Biel

Above Ligerz on Lake Biel lies a group of houses known as the Festi. From 1925, the artist couple Fernand and Elsi Giauque lived here. Their vineyard house quickly developed into an artistic meeting place whose influence reached far beyond the region for decades: exhibitions, readings, musical performances, puppet theatre. The early circle included Otto Morach, Johannes Itten and Max Bill.

From Dürrenmatt to Luginbühl

When Fernand and Elsi Giauque separated in 1943, she remained at the Festi with their daughter Pia. Elsi Giauque became an internationally known textile artist and taught at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich. From 1950 to 1952 she took in the writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt, who had fallen on hard times, together with his family — and he brought friends such as Max Frisch to Ligerz. Later, Erica and Gian Pedretti as well as Ursi and Bernhard Luginbühl frequented the Festi.

Numerous items from the estate of Pia Andry-Giauque came up for auction: pictures by Fernand Giauque and Johannes Itten, a sculpture together with its design drawing by Bernhard Luginbühl, a work by Gianni Colombo — and the poster for Elsi Giauque’s 70th birthday with sketches and dedications by various artists, including Max Bill.

All the works connected with the Festi were offered at the Spring Auction 2024.