The fourth in Comte’s series of performative activations, How to Grow and Still Stay the Same Shape is a highly playful and mimetic series of movements in dialogue with the artist’s monumental 31-metre-long geometric wall painting, The Origin of the Shockwave Ripple Effect (yellow and turquoise), currently installed at EMΣT. Choreographed by Comte and performed by Andrea Tortosa Vidal, the movements interpret the elemental forms of life expressed in the optical pattern of the wall painting.
Drawing from the ancient tradition of mimesis, Comte cultivates a space of alterity in this work, wherein the imaginative imitation of natural phenomena holds the potential for evoking empathy. Through her interpretation, she guides us through the rhythmic patterns of natural phenomena that constitute the universe of her work at EMΣT. In doing so, she situates us in dynamic relation to shockwaves, light, and the sensory experiences of flora and fauna embodied within the fluidity of human movement. Additionally, Comte’s performance will be activated by an original musical composition by longstanding collaborator, Egon Elliut.
ARTISTS
Claudia Comte’s practice is guided by a longstanding interest in teasing out the history and memory of biomorphic forms through traditional hand processes, industrial and machine technologies. Comte’s site-specific installations bring together monumental wall paintings and sculptures inspired by organic patterns and morphology, and pay testament to the intelligence and transformative capacities of the ecological world. Comte has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions around the world, including at Globus Public Art Project/Fondation Beyeler, Switzerland (2023), Foundación Casa Wabi, Puerto Escondido, Mexico (2023), Museum Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, Switzerland (2022), Desert X AlUla, Saudi Arabia (2022), The Dreamers, 58th October Salon – Belgrade Biennale, Belgrade, Serbia (2021), Museo Nacional Thyssen – Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain (2021), Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark (2019); Castello di Rivoli, Turin, Italy (2019). Comte was born in 1983 in Grancy, Switzerland. She is based in Basel.
