The moment dance enters the exhibition space, the audience must reposition themselves. Dance off-stage begs for a collaboration—not only by mutually establishing an environment, but in the production of meaning and experience.

The exhibition space locates the performing body as both exhibitionist and voyeur in its re – contextualisation from the conventions of the stage—to now focus the spectator’s eyes on the visual and the performative. The dancing body in close proximity invites an encounter which destabilises the traditional relationship with the object gazed upon, simply because of its realness. Proximity and its access brings the spectator’s body parallel to the dancing body, to gaze right back at you.

Avalanche # 5: In Close Proximity is a two-night event, temporarily occupying the whole of the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève. The four works selected bring together two generations of visual artists and choreographers, forming a recent genealogy of dance making. Both evenings will begin with the presentation of a staged piece by two of the most acclaimed figures in the field of time-based exhibitions, to be followed by newly commissioned works by two emerging choreographers.

The European premiere of Maria Hassabi’s TOGETHER (2019), the latest live commission by the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, will take over the second floor on May 2, followed by a site-specific intervention on the third floor by Adriano Wilfert Jensen, commissioned by the Centre d’Art contemporain Genève in co-production with MDT Stockholm; Dansehallerne, Copenhagen and Kanuti Gildi Saal, Tallinn.

On May 3, (untitled) (2000) by Tino Sehgal, his seminal solo conceived for the stage and which marks the transition of his works for the exhibition, will open the second evening followed by a durational piece by Nikima Jagudajev, co-produced by MoMA PS1, New York; Human Resources, Los Angeles and Crush Curatorial.

this event is presented on the occasion of the Fête de la Danse, Genève

PROGRAM

Thursday May 2, 2019
18.30
Maria Hassabi, TOGETHER, 2019, 50 min – European premiere
19.30
Free food on the 4th floor
20.00
Adriano Wilfert Jensen, feelings, 2019, 70 min – Swiss premiere

Friday May 3, 2019
18.30
Tino Sehgal, (untitled), 2000, 50 min
19.30
Free food on the 4th floor
19.30-00.00
Nikima Jagudajev, The Dentist (May 3, 2019 19:30:00 GMT+1), 270 min* – World premiere

* The audience is free to come and go at any time during this performance

Image: Maria Hassabi, SOLO,2009. Presentation at Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto, Portugal. Part of Museum as Performance. September 19, 20, 2015. Photo: Filipe Braga.