“Electric Idyll”: Pipilotti Rist’s Visionary Art Lands in Doha
This February, Qatar Museums is proud to present a landmark event in the cultural landscape of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: the premiere survey exhibition of Pipilotti Rist, the Swiss visionary artist known for her immersive video installations and exploratory art. Titled “Electric Idyll,” this exhibition marks Rist’s significant debut in the region, taking place at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence in Doha from February 23 to June 1, 2024.
Curated by the esteemed Massimiliano Gioni, “Electric Idyll” sprawls across the 650-square-meter expanse of the Fire Station’s Garage Gallery, transforming it into a comprehensive, single installation that weaves together Rist’s most iconic works with new, participatory pieces created exclusively for Doha. This confluence of art and innovation comes as a highlight of the February assembly of Qatar Creates, a national movement celebrating Qatar’s rich tapestry of cultural activities.
Rist, emerging in the ’90s, has carved a niche for herself by intertwining technology, nature, and the omnipresent spectacle of images in modern society. “Electric Idyll” is envisioned as a hypnotic diorama, an all-encompassing digital landscape that envelops visitors in a world where the boundaries between the biological and the electronic blur into a new realm of experience. The exhibition includes 14 works, showcasing Rist’s journey through the intersection of human senses and digital technologies.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, expressed her enthusiasm for the exhibition, highlighting Rist’s ability to inspire wonder in children and adults alike, inviting visitors to question their perceptions of the world.
The exhibition promises an engaging array of “electric islands” – interactive spaces where video projections, furniture, carpets, and domestic objects coalesce into large-scale “still lives.” These “living rooms” project images onto every surface, including visitors, transforming the gallery into a canvas for Rist’s dreamlike visions.
Rist herself views her art as a celebration of life, a tribute to the senses and nature, aiming to flood viewers with wisdom, serenity, and a sense of unity. “Electric Idyll” not only showcases Rist’s artistic evolution but also serves as a call to embrace diverse opinions, reconcile reason and instinct, and foster mental synchrony.
Among the exhibition’s notable works are “Ever is Over All,” the piece that clinched Rist the award for best young artist at the 1997 Venice Biennale, and “Worry Will Vanish,” a vast digital panorama offering an introspective journey into Rist’s unique vision. Additional highlights include the “Shapeshifter Window” series and “Deine Raumkapsel,” inviting viewers into mesmerizing digital realms.
“Electric Idyll” builds on the success of Rist’s previous installation in Doha, “Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You,” further solidifying her presence in the region’s art scene. This exhibition, with its blend of technology, art, and human experience, promises to be a transformative event, showcasing the limitless potential of creative expression.
For more information and tickets, please visit the Fire Station’s official website.
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