Journey through the worlds of John Howe

John Howe’s art appeals to all generations, creating a common bridge for conversations about the themes that inspire them. His work often conveys a literary and poetic heritage – sometimes centuries old – through contemporary media that enjoy widespread popularity.
John Howe is one of the world’s most renowned and acclaimed artists, particularly for his visual interpretation of Tolkien’s literary works. His art has appeared in illustrated editions, Peter Jackson’s film adaptations, on TV platforms, as well as in board games and video games.
John Howe is thus the only artist to have extended Tolkien’s work visually across such a wide range of traditional and contemporary media.
The inaugural exhibition at the Tour du Fantastique is dedicated to his work, presenting more than 250 drawings and paintings across four floors in a completely original exhibition layout and scenography.
Complemented by historical works and objects from the city’s museums, the exhibition explores, among other things, the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s journey through Switzerland on the landscapes described in his novels. This includes La Tène, named after the archaeological site discovered on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, which may have inspired Tolkien’s vision of the lakeside settlement of Lake Town in The Hobbit.

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