Monster Chetwynd (b. 1973 London, lives and works in Zurich), also previously known under the names Lali, Spartacus and Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, shot to international fame in the 2000s with her excuberant performances that recall medieval mystery plays and carnival theatre and draw on themes from both art history and popular culture. In 2012, she became the first performance artist to be nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize and is today one of the leading figures working in the field of contemporary performance.

However, Chetwynd’s artistic production is much broader, encompassing disciplines including painting, sculpture, installations and films. Her artistic practice draws on a vast range of cultural sources and combines them into something new. Humour, curiosity and collaboration are key.

The exhibition, created in collaboration with curator Raphael Gygax, offers the first comprehensive overview of Chetwynd’s work in Switzerland. More than 60 pieces from the last 25 years will be combined with an immersive exhibition architecture.

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Ill.: Monster Chetwynd, Lantern Fly (Pastoral), 2021, Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich / Milan, © Monster Chetwynd