Sur-Mesure: A selection of singular works and large-format installations presented by galleries and selected by curator Nicolas Trembley.
Inspired by 19th-century exhibition fixtures at world’s fairs and shopping malls, the first edition of artgenève/sur-mesure reinvents the concept of the fairground by adopting the atmosphere of a funfair. The chosen works explore the theme of amusement parks, featuring rides, slides, trompe-l’œil panoramas, buggy circuits, bear fights and the presence of aliens and fairy-tale characters.
However, beyond the playful aspect, the artists express political or feminist positions related to contemporary society through the choice of these artworks.
This imposing textile work hung from the ceiling was created in 2020 for the inauguration of the Mass Art Museum in Boston. Forming part of a series developed by the artist over the last fifteen years, it is called Valkyrie in honour of the goddesses of Norse mythology. Valkyrie Mumbet pays tribute to Elizabeth Mumbet Freeman, who was the first African-American slave to win a legal battle in 1781 that secured her freedom.
Moving beyond the playful, colourful and sparkling appearance, this work makes direct references to the colonialist history of Portugal and the African slave trade to Brazil. As well as embroidery, lace, crochet and pompoms, the sculpture is created using capulana, a fabric used by women in Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony that was the birthplace of the artist’s parents. For the artist, these capulanas are the perfect illustration of the fluidity of cultures, reflecting a complex history that is interwoven with cultural exchanges that span both continents and centuries.
This work also forms part of a quest to discover traditionally feminine craft techniques, delving into personal and collective stories of women’s history. In the eyes of the artist, Valkyrie Mumbet is a symbol of freedom, representing the capacity of women to change their own lives by their very actions.
