Biography
Nicola Genovese is an Italian artist born in Venice in 1971 and currently living in Zurich. After graduating from the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in 2017, he pursued a Creative Work PhD at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa. His work has been recently exhibited and performed at various venues, including Haus Konstruktiv, Cabaret Voltaire, Fabrik Theater, Helmhaus, Last Tango and Rietberg Museum in Zurich; Le Commun in Geneve; Südpol and Kali in Luzern; Kunstraum Aarau; La Rada in Locarno; Sonnenstube in Lugano; the Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg. In 2024, the artist was awarded the Werkstipendium grant from the canton of Zurich.
Encompassing sculpture, video, performance, and music, Nicola Genovese's multimedia practice critically researches the aesthetics that shape masculinity and class identities in Western societies. Hierarchies and power relationships are translated into the combination of various materials, allowing the artist to explore the social history of decoration. As an Italian immigrant residing in Switzerland, he frequently assumes the roles of the fool, the punk, and the Pierrot in his performances and theater pieces.
He acts as an individual consultant, guide and tutor for the production and realization of the MFA students’ art pieces and installations. He has access to many ZHdK workshops, such as ceramics, wood, plastic, fabrics, metal, etc.
www.nicolagenovese.org
Publication
SOLO SHOWS
2024
Schick mir die Sintflut - Oxyd (Winterthur)
2023
Snacks - curator Matteo Kramer - Kali Gallery (Lucerne)
Desireless - curator Francesco Urbano Ragazzi - Toxi Space (Zurich)
Sad Boy - text by James Sey - Wits Art Museum (Johannesburg)
1000 regrets - Lokal-int (Biel CH)
2022
Tinnitus - text by Camille Regli - Material (Zurich)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS / PERFORMANCES
2024
Gradients of the Grotesque: A Stampede of Crocs, Buffalos and Gazelles, Last Tango (Zurich)
Quiet Quiet, La Rada (Locarno)
Zahltag, curators Amir El May & Sylvain Gelewski - Le Commun (Geneva)
Krautfestival - (Lucerne)
2023
Raggiro - curator Lorenzo Metzler - Grieder Contemporary (Como IT)
Grosse Regionale - Kunstzeughaus (Rapperswill)
Werk und Atelier Stipendium - Helmaus (Zurich)
2022
Werkschau - Haus Konstruktiv (Zurich)
Die unterbrochene Reise - curator Lorenzo Metzler - Haus am See (Unterägeri)
Living Room - curator Andrea Lerda (Cuneo IT)
2021
Grosse Regionale - curator Irene Grillo - Alte Fabrik (Rapperswill)
A Novanta Theater Production co-produced by Fabriktheater and Südpol Luzern
Werk und Atelier Stipendium 2021 - Helmaus (Zurich)
Stitches: Scénes, corps, decors - curators Gabrielle Boder, Tadeo Kohan, Camille Regli
Le Commun (Geneve)
2020
S.H.T.F. the trilogy - curator Simon Maurer - Helmhaus (Zurich)
Gasträume/Art in public space - curator Cristoph Doswald - (Zurich)
Performance lecture - Artistic Research Africa Conference - Wits University (Johannesburg)
Artmangeddon with David Knuckney - Espace Libre (Biel)
Performance A Novanta within the exhibition Her take - Photoforum Pasquart (Biel)
2019
Prémiere S.H.T.F. Second Chapter - Cabaret Voltaire (Zurich)
Werk und Atelier Stipendium 2019 - Helmahaus (Zurich)
S.H.T.F. the prologue (le sauvage) performance - Kulturfolger (Zurich)
Withdraw*2 - curator Katja Baumhoff / Josip Zanchi - Mestrovic Pavilion (Zagreb)
2018
Withdraw - curator Katja Baumhoff/ Josip Zanchi - Shed Eisenwerk (Frauenfeld)
In the tower of plastc feelings with Nina Emge - Klara Kiss offspace (Zurich)