ARCHITECTURE OF AN AUTONOMY
Séverin Guelpa est artiste et curateur. Il vit et travaille principalement entre Genève, les Alpes suisses et les déserts américains (1974).
En s’inspirant des formes d’intelligence collective et d’écologie qui existent dans les zones reculées et arides du globe, le travail de Séverin Guelpa aborde des questions d’identité, de culture ou encore d’émancipation. Moteur de sa pratique artistique, le manifeste MATZA qu’il fonde en 2014 est animé par la volonté d’explorer, tant dans son travail personnel que comme curateur, notre capacité à faire communauté et imaginer de nouveaux rapports à la nature et ses ressources. Ses architectures, comme ses sculptures, peintures ou vidéos prennent forme au contact des matières premières, pierres, éléments de construction ou matériaux de récupération qu’il extrait, assemble, met sous tension ou dispose dans de fragiles équilibres. Il s’inspire et travaille généralement à partir de territoires menacés, le plus souvent au sein de régions extrêmes comme les montagnes ou les déserts en cherchant dans la singularité de ces lieux et les savoirs des gens qui y vivent les lignes de force de son travail.
Comme curateur, il collabore ponctuellement avec des communautés existantes ou invite artistes, architectes et experts à se joindre à lui. Après le désert de Mojave (2014-2017), le glacier d’Aletsch (2016-2018), les iles de Kerkennah en Tunisie (2017) et plusieurs villes suisses, il intervient avec MATZA en Colombie (Medellin et Cúcuta) et au Kenya (Nairobi) entre 2022 et 2023. Il travaille actuellement entre le désert de Mojave (Californie), les Alpes suisses et le Salar de Atacama (Chili). Il crée en 2024 le studio MATZA qui œuvre comme outil d’expérimentation ou de production ponctuel.
Après une licence en Sciences politiques (Université de Genève), Séverin Guelpa obtient un master en arts visuels de la HEAD (Haute Ecole d’Arts et de Design – Genève). Il intervient régulièrement au sein d’Écoles d’art, d’architecture ou d’universités en Suisse et à l’étranger pour présenter son travail ou conduire des ateliers.
Séverin Guelpa is an artist and curator. He lives and works primarily between Geneva, the Swiss Alps, and the American deserts (born 1974).
Drawing inspiration from the forms of collective intelligence and ecology found in remote and arid regions of the globe, Séverin Guelpa’s work addresses questions of identity, culture, and emancipation. At the core of his artistic practice is the MATZA manifesto, which he founded in 2014, driven by the desire to explore our capacity to build community and imagine new relationships with nature and its resources, both in his personal work and as a curator. His architectures, like his sculptures, paintings, and videos, take shape through contact with raw materials, stones, construction elements, or recycled materials that he extracts, assembles, places under tension or arranges in fragile balances. He is inspired by, and often works from, threatened territories, particularly in extreme regions such as mountains or deserts, seeking in the uniqueness of these places and the knowledge of the people who live there the driving forces behind his work.
As a curator, he occasionally collaborates with existing communities or invites artists, architects, and experts to join him. Following projects in the Mojave Desert (2014-2017), on the Aletsch Glacier (2016-2018), the Kerkennah Islands in Tunisia (2017), and in several Swiss cities, he engaged with MATZA in Colombia (Medellin and Cúcuta) and Kenya (Nairobi) between 2022 and 2023. He is currently working between the Mojave Desert (California), the Swiss Alps, and the Salar de Atacama (Chile). In 2024, he established the MATZA studio, which serves as a tool for occasional experimentation and production.
After earning a degree in Political Science (University of Geneva), Séverin Guelpa obtained a master’s degree in visual arts from they completed a master’s degree in Visual Arts from HEAD (Geneva University of Art and Design). He regularly participates in art schools, architecture schools, or universities in Switzerland and abroad to present his work or lead workshops.
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
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
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)
