ARCHITECTURE OF AN AUTONOMY
Séverin Guelpa est un artiste visuel contemporain. Il vit et travaille à Genève (né en 1974).
Séverin Guelpa puise son inspiration dans la matière première du territoire dont il révèle les forces, les mouvements et les points de fracture. Son travail associe matériaux bruts, pierre, terre, bois ou encore rebus industriels pour traduire les états d’un monde en profond bouleversement. Il modifie, pèse, transforme ou déplace alors les matières premières dans des installations qui évoquent les liens complexes entre besoins humains d’une part, pratiques collectives et formes de résilience naturelle de l’autre, cherchant à questionner les changements radicaux qui attendent notre société.
Avec ses projets MATZA, Séverin Guelpa investit des territoires extrêmes ou des zones urbaines emblématiques à travers le monde, fédérant autour de chaque projet des artistes, artisans, architectes et experts issus de divers domaines. Ces expériences de terrain nourrissent une recherche sur notre capacité d’adaptation et l’émergence de nouvelles formes d’écologies et de réciprocités collectives. Après des interventions dans le désert de Mojave (2014-2017), sur le glacier d’Aletsch (2016-2018), dans l’archipel des Kerkennah en Tunisie (2017) ou encore dans plusieurs villes suisses, MATZA s’est récemment déployé en Colombie (Medellín et Cúcuta) et au Kenya (Nairobi) entre 2022 et 2023. Actuellement, Guelpa poursuit ses recherches entre le désert de Mojave (Californie), les Alpes suisses et le Salar d’Atacama (Chili). En 2024, il a lancé le studio MATZA, un laboratoire de production et d’expérimentation qui intervient ponctuellement au gré des projets.
D’abord diplômé en sciences politiques, Séverin Guelpa a ensuite obtenu un master en arts visuels à la HEAD – Genève. Il partage régulièrement son travail à travers conférences et workshops dans des institutions, universités et écoles d’art en Suisse comme à l’international.
Séverin Guelpa is a visual contemporary artist. He lives and works in Geneva (1974).
Rooted in the territories he explores, Séverin Guelpa’s work addresses questions of time, autonomy, land use or emancipation. His installations, sculptures, videos and prints combine raw materials, construction elements and industrial scraps, which he assembles, weighs and tensions to speak of our relationship with our social or natural environement. He generally draws his inspiration and work from treathened sites, most often in desert regions, looking to the fragility of these places and the singularity of the communities who live there for the main thrust of his work.
With his MATZA projects, Séverin Guelpa invests in parallel across the world extreme territories or emblematic urban areas in which he mobilizes around projects other artists, craftsmen, architects or experts from different fields of expertise. Learning from these regions feeds into work on our ability to adapt and envision new forms of ecologies and collective reciprocities. After projects in the Mojave Desert (2014–2017), the Aletsch Glacier (2016–2018), the Kerkennah Islands in Tunisia (2017) and several Swiss cities, MATZA has recently expanded to Colombia (Medellín and Cúcuta) and Kenya (Nairobi) between 2022 and 2023. Currently, Guelpa is working across the Mojave Desert (California), the Swiss Alps, and the Salar de Atacama (Chile). In 2024, he launched the MATZA Studio, which now operates as a tool for experimental and occasional production.
After a degree in Political Science, Séverin Guelpa obtained a master’s degree in visual arts at HEAD, Geneva. He has given workshops and lectures about his work at numerous institutions, universities and art schools in Switzerland as internationaly.
ABOUT SEVERIN GUELPA`S WORK
RUMBLING WATERS / Some thoughts on the art of Séverin Guelpa. A text by Dorothea Strauss (Zurich, CH), 2023
ENERGY AS A VEHICLE / A text about the work of Séverin Guelpa, Simon Lamunière, curator (Geneva, CH), 2018
MATZA MOJAVE / About Séverin Guelpa, Bill Fox, curator and art historian (Reno, USA), 2023
SOLO EXHIBITIONS / EXPOSITIONS PERSONNELLES
2025 – BOXOHOUSE, Joshua Tree (USA), 02.2025, permanent work
2025 – ESPACE L, Genève (CH), 15.05.2025 (opening)
2025 – FORUM Meyrin (CH), 09.2025, outdoor installation
2025 – ROLEX LEARNING CENTER, EPFL, Lausanne (CH), 07.10.2025
2025 – KUNST KLIMA, Stuttgart (D), 11.2025
2025 – GRISEBACH Zürich (CH), 12.2025
2024 – LES COLONNES DE BOUJAAFAR, Sousse (TUN), permanent work
2023 – TREMBLEMENT, Centre d’art Les Halles, Porrentruy
2022 – ECOUTER GRONDER LE MONDE, Université de Genève (Suisse), 15 – 27.11.2022
2021 – NATURE OF PROVIDENCE, Building Bridges Gallery, Santa Monica (USA), 4.9 – 5.10.2021
2021 – SUBSIDENCE OF GROWTH, Kunsthalle Arbon (CH), 2–31.10.2021
2020 – LA TERMITIERE, Théâtre de l’Orangerie, Geneva (CH), 8.7 – 23.9.2020
2019 – MATTER FOR DISSIDENCE, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zürich (CH), 8.2 – 3.3.2019
2019 – DUPLEX ZEPPELIN, Meyrin (CH), 2.7.2019
2019 – BROKEN, Le Salon Vert Gallery, Carouge (CH), 15 – 25.9.2019
2017 – RADICAL BIOTOPE, Ferme Asile, Sion (CH), 29.9 – 15.12.2017
2017 – THE SUN BOWL AND THE CIRCLE, Amboy (USA), 08.2017
2016 – MATIERES PREMIERES, Halle Nord, Geneva (CH)
2015 – DRYLAND MOTEL LOBBY LAB, Amboy (USA)
2015 – THE BLACK ACT, Project Space MAXXX, Sierre (CH)
2015 – KAYENTA – Halle Nord, Capsule 2, Geneva, (CH)
2014 – STONES OF SUBSISTENCE, Le Salon Vert Gallery, Carouge (CH)
2014 – GOLDEN SMILE SALTY TEARS, Amboy (USA)
2013 – A CORN’S STORY, performance, Beijing (China)
2011 – FRIENDSHIP HOLIDAY HOTEL, Café CULT, Geneva
2011 – PERFORMA, UNI MAIL University building, Geneva
2011 – CHALLENGE THE DAY, Stargazer Gallery, Geneva
2011 – GLORIOSUS, Ex-Machina Gallery, Geneva
GROUP SHOWS / EXPOSITIONS COLLECTIVES
2025 – PASSAGE, Gemmipass (CH), 5.07 – 02.10.2025
2025 – ERDE(N), Froh Ussicht, Richterwil (CH) 30.08 – 27.09.2025
2025 – OFF GRID, Forum Meyrin (CH), 03.09.2025 (opening)
2024 – BACKSTAGE, Engelberg (CH), 21.06 – 18.08.2024
2024 – LIGNE(S) 202, Vevey (CH), 29.6 – 23.08.2024
2024 – RUMBLING WATERS, Exposition de la collection la Mobilière, Berne
2023 – MARGE DE MANOEUVRES, le Manoir de Martigny
2023 – VIVEMENT DEMAIN, Bex & Arts, triennale d’art, Bex
2023 – TRANSFORMATIONS, Musée F. Gertsch, Burgdorf
2022 – LOS ANGELES ART SHOW, 12-16.01.2022
2022 – FMAC, exposition des acquisitions 2021, Genève, 21.12.2022 – 21.2.2023
2022 – CIDADE FLORESTA, Museo de Manana, Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), 4-12..6.2022
2022 – APPETIZERS 2022, Leuk Schloss, Leuk (Switzerland), 7 – 26.5.2022
2021 – EPHEMERE ET DURABLE, Au bord de l’Aire, Geneva (CH)
2021 – RESISTENCIA Y PODER, Centex, Valparaiso (CHL), 19.6 – 20.7.2021
2021 – MAGALLANES Y LAS GEOGRAFIAS DE LO (DES)CONOCIDO, Parque Cultural Valparaiso (CHL)
2021 – MAGALLANES Y LAS GEOGRAFIAS DE LO (DES)CONOCIDO, Suizspacio, Santiago (CHL)
2021 – RESISTENCIA Y PODER, Museo Regional de Magallanes, Punta Arenas (CHL), 2 – 22.11.2021
2021 – LOW TECH, Forum Meyrin (CH), 25.9 – 24.12.2021
2021 – APPETIZERS, Leuk Schloss, Leuk (CH), 25.5 – 15.6.2021
2020 – AVANT DEMAIN, Château de Pentes, Geneva (CH), 4.9 – 13.12.2020
2020 – TREMBLEMENT – Partie #1 (CH), 24 –27.9.2020
2020 – BONE FESTIVAL, Bern (CH), 10 – 17.8.2020
2019 – SUPERSTRUCTURE, Meyrin (CH), 2 – 3.2.2019
2019 – GET A NERVE, Geneva (CH), 28.1 – 3.2.2019)
2019 – PARADISE PARALLAX, Joshua Tree Treeniale, Joshua Tree (USA), 2 – 16.4.2019
2019 – LE BÜRO, Laurence Bernard Gallery, Geneva
2019 – SPIELACT festival, Geneva (CH), 1 – 11.6.2019
2019 – HEART GENEVA, Geneva (CH), 19.6 – 31.8.2019
2019 – LES DILETTANTES Gallery, Sion (CH), 18.6.2019
2019 – BALEAPOP festival, St-Jean de Luz (FR), 12 – 18.8.2019
2019 – POINT DE VUE, La Poudrière, Bayonne (FR)
2018 – ART GENEVE, Stand Aparté, Geneva (CH)
2018 – MASS IN MOTION, Matza, Aletsch glacier (CH) 27.8 – 9.9.2018
2018 – Galerie des Multiples, Paris (FR), 13 – 30.9.2018
2018 – UTOPIES VISUELLES, Sousse (TUN), 4 – 25.7.2018
2018 – JBAM#2018, Meyrin (CH), 16.6 – 15.9.2018
2018 – UNION TMF, Halle Nord, Geneva (CH), 7 – 22.6.2018
2018 – MANAGING NEW DISPLACEMENTS FROM GEOGRAPHY, Atacama desert (CHL), 10 – 20.7.2018
2018 – DE RETOUR DU GLACIER, MATZA Aletsch, Ferme Asile, Sion (CH)
2017 – COMMUN, Matza Kerkennah, Bardo national museum, Tunis (TUN), 14.4 – 7.5. 2017
2017 – DO DISTURB, Palais de Tokyo, Paris (FR), 21 – 23.4. 2017
2017 – JAOUI Festival, Tunis (TUN), 10 – 20.5.2017
2017 – NIGHT OF THE LIVING SCARECROWS, Geneva (CH), 9.9.2017
2017 – Triennale du Valais, Martigny (CH), 26.8 – 15.12.2017
2016 – STARING AXIS, 4th Biennale of Land Art (Mongolia)
2016 – UNDERGROUNDS, MATZA, Amboy 2016 (USA)
2016 – UNDERGROUNDS, Bâtiment 76, Genève (CH)
2016 – UNDERGROUDS, MATZA, Aletsch glacier 2016 (CH)
2016 – TWISTING CRASH – Romantso Art space, Athens (GR)
2015 – DRYLAND MOTEL LOBBY LAB, MATZA Amboy, (USA)
2014 – UN REGARD SUR LA VILLE, Bulle, Musée gruérien (CH)
2014 – AGORA, 4e Biennale d’Athènes (GR)
2013 – C’EST MOI QUI CHOISIS, LIVH (Live in your head) Geneva (CH)
2013 – CULTURAL CLASH, Leipzig (Alle), Strasbourg (Fr), Geneva (CH)
2013 – THE FAWN, THE FORD, THE ROSES AND THE STRETCHING TREE, Le voyage à Nantes, Nantes (Fr)
2013 – LANCY 2012, Lancy (CH)
2013 – BUREAU DE PRATIQUES RÉVERSIBLES, Espace temporaire, Geneva (CH)
2013 – STUDIO3003, International exhibition of young artists, Xi’An (China)
2012 – RATHANIA’S, Musée Rath, Geneva (CH)
2012 – EX-CORPUS, Ex-Machina Gallery, Geneva (CH)
2011 – JUNGKUNST, Winthertur (CH)
2011 – MANIFESTO, Toulouse (FR)
EXHIBITIONS AND PROJECTS CURATION / COMMISSARIAT DE PROJTS ET D’EXPOSITIONS
2023 – UNDER THE RADAR, MATZA Edgelands Genève (CH), 27.04 – 11.05.2023)
2023 – DIGITAL INFORMALITIES, MATZA Edgelands Nairobi (Kenya), 23.1. – 14.2.2023)
2022 – BLURRED LINES, MATZA Edgelands, Cucuta(Colombia)), 31.1 – 20.3.2022
2022 – COMMON GROUNDS; MATZA Edgelands, Medellin (Colombia), 22 – 31.7.2022
2021 – BIVOUAC (Labor–Matza), Lausanne (CH), 4 – 27.6.2021
2019 – SUPERSTRUCTURE, MATZA Meyrin (CH) 2019
2018 – MASS IN MOTION, MATZA Aletsch (CH)27.8 – 9.9.2018
2017 – FORGOTTEN LAND, Navajo reservation (USA)
2017 – COMMUN (MATZA Kerkennah), Iles de Kerkennah (TUN)
2017 – ANTICIPATING THE EXTREME, MATZA Aletsch (CH)
2017 – BIG, Biennale des Espaces d’Art Indépendants de Genève, Geneva (CH)
2016 – UNDERGROUNDS, Bâtiment 76, Geneva (CH)
2016 – UNDERGROUNDS, MATZA Amboy (USA)
2016 – TWISTING CRASH, Espace Romantso, Athènes (GR)
2016 – UNDERGROUNDS, MATZA Aletsch (CH)
2015 – STEELENGE, BIG, Biennale des Espaces d’Art Indépendants de Genève, Geneva (CH)
2015 – TWISTING CRASH, Le Commun, Geneva (CH)
2015 – DRYLAND MOTEL LOBBY LAB, MATZA, Halle Nord, Genève (CH)
2009 – SILSCREEN WORKSHOP, Agent double Geneva (CH)
2009 – OFF SPACES, Espaces temporaires – laboratoire d’art et d’actions collectives, Geneva (CH)
AWARDS, RESIDENCIES AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS / BOURSES, PRIX RESIDENCES ET FONDS PUBLIC
2020 – Swiss art award (finalist)
2018 – Prix Picker Aparté 2017-2018
2016 – Prix Artpro pour projet expérimental, Canton du Valais
2013 – Prix “Coup de coeur” des amis de la Fondation AHEAD, Genève
2021 – BUILDING BRIDGES residency, Los Angeles (USA), 14.8 – 10.9.2021
2020 – CAB Residency, Punta Arenas, Patagonie (CHL), 18.1 – 5.2.2020
2019 – HEARINGS, site specific intervenetion, Manaus (BR), 6-12.10.2019
2019 – BOXO Residency, Joshua tree, USA (20.3-12.4.2019)
COLLECTIONS
Collection d’art de la Mobilière
Fonds cantonal d’art contemporain du Canton de Genève
Fonds municipal d’art contemporain de la Ville de Genève
Fonds municipal d’art contemporain de la Ville de Meyrin
MANDATES, LECTURES AND TEACHINGS / MANDATS, CONFERENCES ET ENSEIGNEMENTS
2021 – UNCOVER Aletsch 2021 (CH), workshop
2021 – UNCOVER Zermatt (CH), workshop
2020 – 22 – EDHEA, Ecole d’art et de design de Sierre (CH), associate research artist
2020 – EDHEA, Ecole d’art et de design de Sierre (CH), invited artist
2020 – UNCOVER Aletsch 2020 (CH), workshop
2018 – ENERGY AS A VEHICLE, CCS, Centre culturel suisse, lecture, 18.3.2018
2018 – ENERGY AS A VEHICLE, Centre d’art contemporain, cinéma Dynamo, Genève, conference, 16.10.2018
2018 – ENERGY AS A VEHICLE, Kunstraum Walcheturm, conference 27.9.2018
2018 – SNOW CITY, Sandberg Institute, Lac de Lioson (CH), workshop
2017 – DRYLAB 2023, Phoenix University, Amboy (USA), workshop,
2017 – MAKING THINGS COMMON, UCLA Summer Institute, Los Angeles (USA), conference
2017 – UCLA, Art&Sci Center, Los Angeles (USA), conference
2017 – ALONG ECOLOGICAL LINES, EDHEA, Valais (CH), workshop
2017 – LE MANIFESTE DU COMMUN, EDHEA, Valais (CH), workshop
2017 – CONDUITE FORCEE, Sion (CH), workshop, EPFL-HEAD
2016 – L’EAU, SOURCE DU TERRITOIRE, Sion (CH), workshop, EPFL- HEAD
2017 – EPFL, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – chargé de cours 2016-17
2016 – CCC, Conseil consultatif de la culture, Genève (member 2016-2019)
2013 – FPLCE, Fondation pour la promotion de la culture émergente, Geneva (member 2013-2016)
2011 – ZABRISKIE POINT – espace d’art indépendant, Geneva (CH), co-curation until 2015
2010 – LE VELODROME – centre autogéré d’artistes, Geneva (CH), president until 2012
EDUCATION / FORMATION
Master en arts visuels, Head, Geneva (2013)
Licence en Sciences politiques, Geneva University (1997)
