From 1931 to 1937, an international network fights in Paris for the freedom of art and against fascism: the group Abstraction-Création, which consists of up to 90 members in varying compositions. Among them are Hans (Jean) Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Alexander Calder, Barbara Hepworth, and Piet Mondrian. This is the first exhibition on this groundbreaking association since the 1970s.

While nationalist movements spread across Europe, Paris develops as a center of the avant-garde into a final refuge. As there is virtually no market for abstract art, the group Abstraction-Création is forced to create autonomous organizational structures independent from salons and galleries. Across generations, liberal, progressive, and visionary, it advocates for the unity of all non-representational directions. The exhibition showcases a range from strict compositions and purist line grids to vividly vibrating, organically appearing forms. Seven international contemporary positions demonstrate the relevance of the theme.