Exhibition with: Shu Lea Cheang, Cibelle Cavalli Bastos*, Tarek Lakhrissi, Izidora L LETHE, Doireann O’Malley, Ceylan Öztrük, Public Fiction Group, Sabrina Röthlisberger (from October), Bhenji Ra & Justin Shoulder*, Jacolby Satterwhite*, Sin Wai Kin.
*as part of CAMP FIRES – The Body as a Queer Stage
Shedhalle’s exhibition format „Protozone“ focuses on process-based art in Hi- and Lo-intensity phases. Protozone4 Extra Worlding explores artistic practices of worlding. The term describes the making or building of worlds which is often part of science fiction. The exhibition showcases the power that comes with the act of worlding which influences the participating artists in their work. Instead of looking at worlds from the outside, we can create them: We are part of them and therefore have a say in them.
With pandemics, wars, climate crisis, but also justice-, equality- and ecology-movements overlapping, our current reality already feels like a science-fiction story. Many artists use this moment to critically analyze the world surrounding them and express their longing for possible alternatives. Artistic works that emerge in these moments of crisis might be the ones that reveal ideas for the future.
The exhibition allows us to experience these worlds physically through the works of the artists.. Theyuse digital technologies or alter bodies to access a variety of worlds and explore their possibilities. Often, these worlds evolved over several years and the artists share them with audiences in various ways.
Besides various worlds, this Protozone explores the materials of contemporary digital technologies that can be involved in worlding. Because a “cloud” (digital storage space) like all digital technologies rely on the mining of rare earths, on server farms and electricity. What does it take to build digital environments? How can they be built sustainably?
We can dive into these worlds with our own bodies, move in them and sometimes change them. These experiences can encourage us to create the worlds we want to live in. And it can strengthen our resistance against worlds we don’t want to be part of.
Protozone4 Extra Worlding is curated by Philipp Bergmann & Thea Reifler in collaboration with Camp Fires* (Cibelle Cavalli Bastos, Bhenji Ra & Justin Shoulder, Jacolby Satterwhite), Zurich Art Weekend, lila. queer festival, Haus der Kunst München (Tarek Lakhrissi), Kunsthalle Osnabrück (Sabrina Röthlisberger), Blindspot Gallery Hong Kong (Sin Wai Kin), AiR (Engy Mohsen), School of Commons (Carina Erdmann), GZ Wollishofen (VR-Café)
Supported by: Stadt Zürich Kultur, Kanton Zürich Fachstelle Kultur, Elisabeth Weber-Stiftung
fmac Genève & Pro Helvetia (Sabrina Röthlisberger)
*CAMP FIRES – The Body as a Queer Stage
CAMP FIRES is an art project curated by Simon W Marin and Violeta Mansilla that is currently taking place across various venues in Zurich. Artworks are on view until 23.10.2021 at Last Tango and Tanzhaus Zürich, and from 17.09.-31.10.2021 at Shedhalle in this Protozone. More information and program here
