13 / 9 / 2014
Thomas Zollinger, born 1952, lives and works in Biel and Zürich, Switzerland. His conceptual work involves minimal art performances of standing and slow walking. Beginning in 1991 with Ritual Theatre, he has progressively elaborated his idea of participative performances in durational projects such as the 12th months performance in which he ritualized elementary human actions (1998/1999) or the very extended 3-years-performance CH LOVES ART (1998-2001), concerning the basic requirements of artist's existence in Switzerland. His focus lies on the absence of objects, materials, requisits, the use of nothing beyond human presence. His work has been shown in cities such as Linz (European Capital of Culture), Murcia (Manifesta8), Biennial of Lanzarote and public spaces throughout Europe (Istanbul, Bodrum, Tromsö, Dresden, Feldkirch). Since 2008 he has realized various naked performances (solo / group) in urban space, recently the Artwalk with Nude Accents in Biel, Switzerland.
Glynis Ackermann, born 1952 in Bristol, England, her artistic career has always been closely connected to her love of movement and dance. She has danced and travelled with the Zürich Opera Ballet Company, including various tours in Europe and Overseas (Rudolf Nureyev) and has participated in major ballet competitions in Moscow and Japan. She has appeared in various TV and film productions. Later she became involved in performance art and developing avenues of physical and energetic body structure and movement in space, taking her inspiration from butoh and oriental dance.
Glynis Ackermann / Thomas Zollinger "Foil" 2013 (Photo Regina Jäger)
Procession of the Naked 2014, Biel Switzerland, Concept: Thomas Zollinger, Photo Walter Winkler
Procession of the Naked 2014, Biel Switzerland, Concept: Thomas Zollinger, Photo Walter Winkler
Glynis Ackermann / Thomas Zollinger "Foil" 2013 (Photo Regina Jäger)
Elias Kirsche,born 1982 in USSR (Ukraine) as an ethnic Jew. Now he is living in Switzerland as a citizen of Germany and Ukraine. Elias studied design, cultural studies, philosophy and history of art in Dortmund, Berlin and Zürich from 2000 to 2013, and wrote his master's degree on sexual taboos. He realized various projects in the field of erotic culture. He participated in naked performances in public space in Zürich and Biel by Thomas Zollinger and took part (together with Alina Kopytsa) in the exibition Art or Pornography - you can decide! in Berlin. Now he is a student of the Institute of Literature, Switzerland (Academy of Art Bern). He is writing a distopia-novel about female sexuality, prostitution and feminism.