The Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève is pleased to announce the first major solo show by the duo Pauline Boudry/Renate Lorenz. These Berlin-based artists have an interest in the almost simultaneous invention of sexuality and sexual perversions on the one hand, and photography and film in the 19^th century on the other hand, as well as in their relationship with the colonial economy. Mostly filmed in 16 mm and featuring distinctive aesthetics that highlight the autonomy of the camera, music, costumes and props, the work of Pauline Boudry/Renate Lorenz gives rise to performances that they define as “queer archaeology”. They rediscover forgotten moments in history, in which non-standard bodies and social constellations are visible. The duo will present recent works, including “Salomania” featuring American choreographer and artist Yvonne Rainer, as well as a new production based on epileptic dance. As a counterpoint to the installations, their show includes “invited” oeuvres by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Judith Hopf, Zoe Leonard, and Henrik Olesen, which also question identity and its representation.

Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz live and work in Berlin. Pauline Boudry studied at the Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Geneva, and worked with Renate Lorenz at the Shedhalle/Rote Fabrik in Zurich. She also founded the music band “Rhythm King and her Friends” and “Normal Love”. Renate Lorenz also works as a curator and academic author. In addition to the video installations, they have coproduced television pieces (“Copy Me – I want to travel”, 2004, Arte), critical books (“Reproduktionskonten fälschen!” ed. Pauline Boudry, Brigitta Kuster, Renate Lorenz, 1999, b-books), and exhibitions (“Normal Love”, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, 2007). The duo recently exhibited at the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne (winning the Accrochage 2010 award), as well as at the Kunstverein Munich, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade, and the Generali Foundation, Vienna. Their work was also presented as solo shows at the Swiss Institute, New York, Gallery 44, Toronto, Les Complices, Zurich (where the exhibition was amongst the six finalists of the Swiss Exhibition Award 2008), and recently at Ellen de Bruijne Projects, Amsterdam.

The exhibition as well as the new production were made possible thanks to the generous support of George Foundation, the République et canton de Genève (Fonds cantonal d’art contemporain), and Julius Baer.

Curated by Denis Pernet

Cover image Photo: Simeon Douchoud