topochoreo
graphies

Thur Waterfalls, Unterwasser (CH)

What criteria shape our perception of a space? 
What traces do bodies leave in the spaces they pass through? 
How does our sense of orientation shift when a space does not follow a straight line?

Three types of spaces intersect in the exhibition: the physical exhibition space, the imaginary space of stories and meanings (as explored, for instance, through tarot and its symbols), and the personal space of queer experiences. Spatial interventions create semi-transparent, labyrinth-like pathways in which live actions unfold. Texts on the walls, drawn from tarot cards, recall topographic contour lines while offering glimpses into a world beyond the visible space.

A corridor connecting two rooms has been subtly altered to produce a shift in perspective, so that walking through it evokes a feeling of imbalance or disorientation. Cast aluminum panels bear poetic phrases; tarot card motifs are present only as distant resonances. The faintly floral scent of the molecule Hedione permeates the space, expanding it with a sensual impulse that has the potential to influence our emotions.

The exhibition space simultaneously serves as a stage for a newly developed performance featuring three performers. In this staged exploration, wayfinding, orientation, and the interweaving of the exhibition’s three spatial dimensions are made tangible through voice and body.





Commissioned by
Rathaus für Kultur / Dogo Residenz für Neue Kunst

Pre-cast and material expertise
Laila Pauli

Performance and scoring research
Hannah Mehler, Nora Wyss

Process
Hannah O’Flynn, Sandro Lussmann

Graphic support
Sirkka Ammann

Curated by
Johannes Reisigl

Photography
Hanes Sturzenegger

Supported by
Innerrhoder Kunststiftung
Gemeinde Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann