Biografie
Antoine Chessex is an artistic practitioner, researcher and lecturer whose work focuses on noise, politics of sound, listening as a social practice, cultural studies and artistic research. As both a composer and a performer, Chessex creates sonic fictions investigating the plasticity of space and time.
As a researcher, Chessex critically engages with discourses and positions within the field of sound studies. In particular, his research focuses on the possible relations between listening, artistic practices and cultural analysis. He also curates platforms and festivals for adventurous sonic arts and is the editor of the publication "Multiple".
Antoine Chessex is the recipient of an Artist Prize "Werkjahr" from the City of Zurich in 2018, a Swiss Music Prize from the Federal Office of Culture in 2020, as well as an Artist Prize from the Suisa Foundation in 2021.
His works have been presented at numerous venues and festivals around the globe like Cafe OTO (London), Transmediale festival (Berlin), Videotage (Hong Kong), Diapason Gallery (New York), Issue Project Room (New York), The Lab (San Francisco), The Compound (San Francisco), INA/GRM Présence électronique Festival (Paris), Berghain (Berlin), Tuned City festival (Berlin), Alexandrinsky Theatre (St-Petersburg), Sonic Protest festival (Paris), Unsound festival (Krakow), Make It Up Club (Melbourne), Archipel festival (Geneva), Women (Los Angeles), Ultra Hang festival (Budapest), Parnassos concert hall (Athen), Ateliers Claus (Brussels), Vaal Gallery (Tallinn), Dom (Moscow), Grim (Marseilles), All Ears Festival (Oslo), Corsica Studios (London), Sound Forest festival (Riga), Urban Guild (Kyoto), Urga (Tokyo), Ochiai Soup (Tokyo), Namba Bear (Osaka), Swissnex (San Francisco), Center of contemporary arts (Warsaw), Ultima contemporary music festival (Oslo), Fundacion Serralves (Porto), Palace Akropolis (Prague), Tam Tuumb! Festival (Roma), Audio Art Festival (Krakow), Meteo Festival (Mulhouse), Death Petrol No Luxe (Antwerpen), Sibelius Academy (Helsinki), Ze Dos Bois (Lisbon), Elastic Arts (Chicago), HAU (Berlin), Mochvara (Zagreb), Anthology Film Archives (New York), Ancienne Belgique (Brussels), LUFF festival (Lausanne), Ruin Festival (Wien), Echo festival (Belgrade), Fylkingen (Stockholm), Sendesaal Bremen, DNK(Amsterdam), Istituto Svizzero (Roma), Rotterdam Film Festival and Fri Art (Fribourg).
Chessex currently works on his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sigrid Adorf and Prof. Dr. Karin Harrasser. The dissertation project "Echoing The Unheard: Listening Against Sound-in-itself" (working title) investigates hegemonic auditory cultures in sonic arts and attempts to identify practices of „echoing“ as socio-political possibilities to listen otherwise. Chessex's doctoral research is part of the SNSF-funded research project "Echoing The Un(fore)seen".
Publikationen / Diskografie / Ausstellungen / Werke
Publications, papers, contributions in magazines, essays (selection):
"Collective Attunements: Listening Against the Matrix of Domination" with Oxana Ivanova-Chessex, in: Hidden Heartache, Ed. by Simone Keller, Frauenfeld, Facetten 21, 2024
"Mattin: Social Dissonance" in: Rue Descartes numéro 102, Paris, Collège International de Philosophie, 2023
"Echoing the Unheard" in: Echakhch, Latifa, The Concert: Catalogue of the Swiss Pavillon's exhibition at the Venice Biennale, London: Sternberg Press, 2022
"Visual Culture Studies" with Sigrid Adorf, in: Handbuch Kunstphilosophie, Ed. by Siegmund, Judith, Bielefeld: transkript, 2022
"In Conversation with Salomé Voegelin", in: Multiple, numéro deux, Ed. by Chessex, Antoine, Zurich, éditions du désordre, 2021
"Blizzard & Dragons", in: Wind Tunnel Buletin no 13, Ed. by Dombois, Florian, Zürich, Zhdk, 2021
"L'oreille cassée", in: Figuren dazwischen. Zurich, Zhdk, 2020
“Bruit psycho-actif, Rudolf Eb.er”, in: Revue et Corrigée 120, Nota Bene, Paris, 2019
"Editions Coulures 1 with Laure Marville", Renens, Atelier Obscur, 2019
“Vers d’autres minimalismes sonores aujourd’hui”, in: Magazine du Grand Théâtre de Genève. Genève, GTG Publication, 2019
"Echo/Cide". In: Eklekto Magazine Publication, Geneva, 2018
"Unfolding the Margins", Zurich, éditions du désordre, 2018
"Multiple, numéro un", Zurich, éditions du désordre, 2018
“Thinking a Sonic World”, in: Kritik: eine Publikation als Ausstellung. Zurich, ZHdK, 2017
"Multiple, numéro zero". Zurich, éditions du désordre, 2016
“What is Noise?”, in: Noise in and as Music. Ed. by Cassidy, Aaron and Einbond, Aaron. Huddersfield, University of Huddersfield Press, 2013
"Entretien par Jérôme Noetinger, in: Revue et Corrigée 82, Nota Bene, Paris, 2009
Conferences, talks, symposia (selection):
"Listening in Research Practices", Antoine Chessex, Carla Peca, Workshop, ETH: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology & Zurich University of the Arts, 2025
"L'écho comme pratique sonore subversive" (invited speaker), Cycle de Conférences "Reflexio: Sound Studies & Sound Art", Université Paris 8, Paris, France, 2023
"Sound Studies or the possibility to listen against sound itself"(invited speaker), Sound Art Symposium "Korsonor", Centre d'Art Contemporain, Geneva, 2023
"Sound Studies als Kampfsport", Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, 2019
"L'écoute émancipée", Ecole du Tiers-Lieu, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2017
"Multiple & Marginal Artistic Practices", Lausanne Underground Film Festival, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2017
"Sounding" with Gilles Aubry, Valerio Tricoli, University of California, Davis, USA, 2010
"Noise as practice" with Ilios, Zbigniew Karkowski, Ny Musikk, Olso, Norway, 2010
"Noise as practice" with Ilios, Zbigniew Karkowski, Goldsmiths College, London, UK, 2010
Audio publications (selection):
LP, "Saxmix", John Duncan, Ideal Recordings, Sweden, 2024
CD, "Geschichten der Gewalt", Hat Hut, Switzerland, 2024
LP, "Maiandros", Noetinger/Meirino/Chessex, Cave12 éditions, Switzerland, 2022
LP, "Der Verboten", Wide Ears, Switzerland, 2021
LP, "Echo/cide, The Experience of Limit", Tochnit Aleph, Germany, 2020
Digital, "Chessex/Thomas/Noble/Edwards", Otoruku, Cafe OTO Live, United Kingdom, 2019
LP, "Subjectivation", Fragment Factory/Absurd, Greece, 2018
CD, "Apartment House, Jérôme Noetinger & Antoine Chessex", Bocian records, Poland, 2016
LP, CD, DVD, "Maja Ratkje's Crepuscular Hour", Rune Grammofon, Norway, 2016
Digital, "Chessex/Noble/Edwards", Ototuku, Cafe OTO Live, United Kingdom, 2016
LP, "Werktag/Chessex/Buess", A Tree in a Field records, Switzerland, 2015
CD, "Multiple, solo work for tenor sax, Musica Moderna, Italy, 2014
CD, "Selected Chamber Music Works", Tochnit Aleph, Germany, 2014
Shoulder Patch & Digital, "Sonic Weapon, Less Lethal vol. 2", Alku, Spain, 2014
LP, "Monno, Cheval Ouvert", Staalplaat, Berlin, 2014
CD, "Monno, Cheval Ouvert", Idiosyncratics records, Belgium, 2013
CD, "Errances", Under Records, Belgium, 2013
CD, "DUST for 3 violins & electronics", Cave12 records, Switzerland, 2011
Tape, "Fools", Blossoming Noise, USA, 2011
LP, "Coi Tormenti", with Valerio Tricoli, Dilemma records, Austria, 2010
LP, "Fools", Tourette Records, USA, 2010
LP, "Terra Incognita", live in Berlin, Aarhus and Hong Kong, Absurd, Greece, 2009
CD,"Calcination", Utech, USA, 2009
7inch, "Power, Stupidity & Ignorance", Petit Mignon, France, 2009
LP, CD, "Monno, Ghosts", Conspiracy records, Belgium, 2008
LP, CD, "Monno, Error", Conspiracy records, Belgium, 2006
CD, "Swiftmachine", Creative Sources, Portugal, 2005
CD, "Kainkwatett", Schraum, Germany, 2004
CD, "Monno, Candlelight Technology", Subdeviant recordings, Belgium, 2003
Compositions for ensembles:
"Re-Miasma", Ensemble Inverspace, Basel, 2024
"Geschichten der Gewalt", New3Art, Biel, 2023
"Monolithe (caché)", Ensemble Aabat, Bern, 2022
"Technosphere & Fragmentation", for church & hammond organs, Label Suisse Festival, 2020
"Plasticité I-IV, Art Zoyd Studios, Paris, 2020
"La Résonance des Ruines", for ICTUS Ensemble, Brussels, 2019
"Lose", for Ensemble Tzara (Text by Dominic Oppliger), Zurich, 2019
"Echo/Cide", for Hackbretters & Cymbalum, Eklekto, Geneva, 2018
"The Experience of Limit", for piano solo (Tamriko Kordzaia), 2018
"Les Souffles des Voix oubliées", for bass clarinet and percussions, 2018
"On the brink of collapse", solo cello & tape machine, Apartment House, London, 2017
"Raw eht Now", Ensemble NEC, La Chaux de Fonds, 2017
"Les Abîmes Hallucinés", Ensemble Proton, Bern, 2016
"Miasma", Ensemble Inverspace, Biel, 2016
"Entwerkung" for electric guitar & trombone, 2016
"Imperial Dissolution", Anti-Ensemble, LUFF Festival, 2016
"Accumulation", String Quartet & Revox Tape Recorder, Apartment House, London, 2015
"Schatten", String Quartet, Sonar Quartett, Berlin, 2015
"Damage is done", Phoenix Ensemble, Basel, 2014
"Plastic Concrete", Apartment House, London, 2014
"Réducteur de Vitesse", Contrabass clarinet & percussions, 2014
"Decadere", Accordion solo (Jonas Kocher), 2014
"Ritournelle Fulgurante", String trio, oh ton Ensemble, Oldenburg, 2013
"Furia", Ensemble Wertag, Zurich, 2012
"Dans un cascade" for percussions and backtape, 2012
"Chute" for microtonal tuba, violin & percussions, Kammerensemble Neue Musik (KNM), Berlin, 2012
"Metakatharsis", Phoenix Ensemble, 2011
"DUST", 3 violins & Revox Tape Recorder (KNM & Valerio Tricoli), Berhgain, Berlin, 2010
"Resonant Water", Microtonal tuba, bass clarinet, double bass, saxophone, Berlin, 2009
Sound Art & Installation works (selection):
"Solo": International Sound Biennale, Usine de Chandoline, Sion, 2023
"Rustling Voices: A Sonic Inquiry", La Becque, La Tour-de-Peilz & Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zürich, 2023
"Sorrn", Installation with Stéphane Montavon, Bellelay, 2022
"Echologies of listening & non-human voices", 2021-2022
"Shhhshhhhshh", Sonic Fiction for Sounding Kites with Florian Dombois, Research Focus Transdisciplinarity, ZHdK, 2021
"Le Chien qui Pleure", with Mélia Roger, Listening Bieniale, Errant Bodies, Berlin, 2021
"Trahir la Place", Installation with Gilles Lepore & Stéphane Montavon, Espace Multimédia Gantner, 2018
"Les Epneumés" with Stéphane Montavon, Fri-Art, Fribourg, 2016
"L'Appeau" with MML & Stéphane Montavon, 2015
"Root" video works by John Duncan, 2015
"Bolidages", installation for tuned cars, organ and video, with Gilles Lepore & Stéphane Montavon, 2013
"Pantogreffe", site specific installation, Le Pantographe, Moutier, 2013
"Black Milk" with Louise Vanneste, Les Brigitinnes, Brussels, 2013
"Dust", Installation in Kunstraum Aarau, 2011
"Persona" with Louise Vanneste, Brussels, 2011
"Espèce d'espace" with Jérôme Noetinger & Valerio Tricoli, Festival Belluard, Fribourg, 2011
"Deinstallation" with Gilles Aubry & Valerio Tricoli, Diapason Gallery, New York, 2010
"Irrepressible" with Zbigniew Karkowski, Ohrenhoch Gallery, Berlin, 2009
"Flow" with Ulrike Gabriel, Axel Dörner & Gilles Aubry, Codelab, Podewil, Berlin, 2002-2005
Curatorial practice (selection):
Maulwerker, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2025
OOR Saloon: Diffraction Works, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2025
Louis Schild & Le Recueil des Miracles, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2024
Ensemble Contrechamps plays Catherine Lamb, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2024
Tomoko Sauvage, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2023
Jalalu Kalvert-Nelson, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2023
Olga Kokcharova & Zainab Lascandri, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2022
Schimpfluch Affiliated Actions. Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, 2019
Textures Festival 3, Cafe OTO, London, 2019
Textures Festival 2, Instants Chavirés, Paris, 2018
Textures Festival 1, Cafe OTO, London, 2017
Curatorial board, IGNM Zurich, 2016-actual
Film in Sounds, Experimental Cinema, Tilisiter Lichtspiele Kino, Berlin, 2008-2011
Experimental Sound & Noise series, Ausland, Berlin, 2007-2010
Experimental Sound & Noise series, Stralau 68, Berlin, 2005-2008
Flow Series with Ulrike Gabriel, Codelab, Podewil, Berlin, 2003-2005