R. Sebastian Schachinger: Notizen zur 13. Stunde / Chiara Bersani: Deserters

R. Sebastian Schachinger: Notizen zur 13. Stunde
September 17–October 1, 2023

Since completing his studies, R. Sebastian Schachinger (b. 1993, Freiburg, Germany) has been continuously realizing complex works that occupy spaces as large-scale installations and can also be activated by shorter and longer performances. As part of his first major institutional exhibition, the artist, who works in Basel and Vienna, and was awarded the Kiefer Hablitzel | Göhner Art Prize in 2022, will present a rigorously structured durational performance over a period of fourteen days.

Based on the idea of introducing a thirteenth hour to the traditional twelve-hour system, Schachinger has conceived a decentralized clock at the Kunsthaus Baselland that keeps time in a novel way. Compared to the familiar rhythm of a twenty-four-hour day, the added time changes the entire flow of the institution. The new time display also dictates the artist’s own daily routine.

The works and performances, some of which have been developed specifically for this concept, all focus on themes such as (social) synchronization and tempo within spatial and societal structures, as well as collectively listening, experiencing, and layering music and sound and their relationship to space. In twelve individual performances—always at the thirteenth hour—Schachinger will go about his daily life and perform according to the time displayed by this clock. Curated by Ines Goldbach and Ines Tondar.

Admission to all performances and the exhibition is free. Please find all performance dates here.

The exhibition is generously supported by Abteilung Kultur Kanton Basel-Stadt, Ernst und Olga Gubler-Hablützel Stiftung, and thoses who wish to remain unnamed.

Chiara Bersani: Deserters
October 27, 2023–January 7, 2024  

Deserters is a live installation by Chiara Bersani (b. 1984, San Rocco al Porto, Italy) consisting of a performance interpreted by three performers with motor impairments and a large environment in which bodies meet and interact without any aid, leaving traces of their movement. Deserters addresses the issues of vulnerability and interdependence, interweaving the languages of visual art and performance, welcoming the audience into an immersive scenic environment that undermines those stereotypes related to the spheres of intimacy, identity, and sexuality that frequently affect people with disabilities. Through this work, Chiara Bersani questions new relational practices that take into account plural prerogatives and investigates—from an aesthetic perspective rooted in proximity and relationality—the broad concept of accessibility, accounting for the political valence of disabled bodies that, after having suffered a violent increase in situations of segregation during the pandemic, here regain space through the unveiling and sharing of sonorities and chants of pleasure. The work will be produced during the artist’s residency in Bergamo, which will conclude with an evening event when the public will be able to attend the final rehearsal of the performance in preparation for its debut/premiere at the Kunsthaus Baselland, which will host Bersani’s first solo exhibition in a European institution. Curated by Lorenzo Giusti, Director GAMeC Bergamo und Ines Goldbach.

Deserters is the winning project of the 11th edition of the Italian Council, the program aimed at supporting Italian contemporary art in the world promoted by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity within the Italian Ministry of Culture.

Please find all performance dates soon here.

The project is promoted by GAMeC Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Bergamo and generously supported by the Italian Council, Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity within the Italian Ministry of Culture,

Many thanks to the annual partners 2023: Amt für Kultur Basel-Landschaft, Gemeinde Muttenz, Burckhardt, Anthony Vischer, Marina Meijer-von Tscharner and to those who wish to remain unnamed.

Director/Curator: Ines Goldbach  
Director’s Assistant: Martina Stähli
Communications, Publications and Assistant Curator: Ines Tondar
Organization Office: Salome Tramèr
Education: Meret Glausen
Intern: Meryl Kureekal