Nicole Schweizer – författare

An art of play, pedestrianism and participation: on Alÿs' abiding motifs

Published to accompany a major solo exhibition by Francis Alÿs (born 1959) at the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne in 2021, this monograph presents an overview of the Belgian-born artist’s work in video, painting and drawing, with special emphasis on a central theme of his practice, the act of walking. At the intersection of art, architecture and social practice, his artworks explore urban tensions and the geopolitical stakes of the spaces he explores. From urban strolls to exploring territories and their borders, Alÿs chronicles everyday rituals, habits and experiences through poetic films and works on paper. Among the many projects highlighted in this publication are Alÿs' works related to his Afghan experience and his Children's Games series in which the imaginary spaces of childhood join the artist's poetics of space. Edited and introduced by MCBA Lausanne curator Nicole Schweizer, the book features essays by Julia Bryan-Wilson, Professor of History of Art, University of California, Berkeley; Luis Pérez-Oramas, independent curator and writer, New York; and Judith Rodenbeck, Associate Professor, Department of Media and Cultural Studies, University of California, Riverside.

Reminiscent of modernist sculpture and theatrical displays, Proenza’s subtle and sophisticated installations propose a space for dreamlike thinking

Published on the occasion of her solo exhibition at the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne, this monograph on French Colombian artist Gina Proenza (born 1994) encompasses her sculptural work drawing from specific narratives blending anthropological research, ancestral tales and literary influences. Through playful forms and theatrical displays, Proenza creates a sophisticated yet sensual visual language.