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Biography

alexandra bachzetsis - Artists - Kurimanzutto

alexandra bachzetsis

1974, Zurich, Switzerland

Choreographer and visual artist, Alexandra Bachzetsis creates spaces at the intersection of dance, performance, visual art and theater — in which the body manifests as artistic and critical apparatus. Her work investigates the choreographies of the body and how culture provides source material for our gestures, expressions and fantasies; through an interdisciplinary approach she examines the influence of ‘popular’ or ‘commercial’ genres (online media, video-clips and television), and the ‘arts’ (ballet, modern dance and performance). The way we inhabit and perform our body — in both everyday life and on stage, through stereotypes and archetypes, choice and cliché - are concerns that continue to shape her practice. In her performances, Bachzetsis addresses stereotyped modes of representation of the female body in popular culture, show business and the sex industry, appropriating these tropes in order to build a new self-reflexive, and empowering formal language.

Bachzetsis is a graduate from the Liceo Artistico, Zurich (1995); Accademia Teatro Dimitri in Verscio, Switzerland (1997); the Performance Education Program at STUK - House for Dance, Image & Sound Arts Centre, Leuven, Belgium (1999); and DAS Graduate School at the Academy of Theatre and Dance, Amsterdam University of the Arts (2006).

She has been the recipient of various awards, including the Performancepreis Schweiz (Swiss Performance Art Award) (2012), Swiss Art Award (2011), and the Migros-Kulturprozent Jubilee Award (2007). Bachzetsis began working independently in 2001 and has produced over 24 pieces (often working collaboratively), showcasing in venues worldwide.

Bachzetsis lives and works in Switzerland.

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
notebook: denim, 2023, press image, photo: diana pfammatter

notebook: denim, 2023, press image, photo: diana pfammatter

notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, video stills

notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, video stills

notebook: sophia the robot sees her feflection for the first time, 2023, video still

notebook: sophia the robot sees her feflection for the first time, 2023, video still

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

etude, 2012

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

etude, 2012

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

a piece danced alone, 2011

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

a piece danced alone, 2011

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

bluff, 2009

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

bluff, 2009

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

dancing, 2009

with participation of students of rietveld academy

amsterdam, the netherlands

 

 

dancing, 2009

with participation of students of rietveld academy

amsterdam, the netherlands

 

 

dream season, 2008

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

dream season, 2008

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

handwerk, 2005

performance view from amsterdam, the netherlands

 

handwerk, 2005

performance view from amsterdam, the netherlands

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

murder mysteries - same difference, 2004

in collaboration with danai anesiadou

brussels, belgium

 

 

murder mysteries - same difference, 2004

in collaboration with danai anesiadou

brussels, belgium

 

 

perfect, 2001

performance view of antwerp, belgium

 

perfect, 2001

performance view of antwerp, belgium

 

notebook: denim, 2023, press image, photo: diana pfammatter

notebook: denim, 2023, press image, photo: diana pfammatter

notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, video stills

notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, video stills

notebook: sophia the robot sees her feflection for the first time, 2023, video still

notebook: sophia the robot sees her feflection for the first time, 2023, video still

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

2020: obscene, 2022, performance and video installation. onassis stegi, athens, photo: pinelopi gerasimou

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

chasing a ghost, 2019. photo: mathilde agius

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

escape act, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

an ideal for a living

images of the performance at centre culturel suisse

paris, 2018

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

private song, 2017
performance at documenta 14, athens
 

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

massacre: variations on a theme, 2017

images of the performance at moma, new york

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

private: wear a mask when you talk to me, 2016

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

from A to B via C, 2014

performance view from mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

gold, 2004

performance at kurimanzutto, mexico city, 2014

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

the stages of staging, 2013

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

etude, 2012

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

etude, 2012

performance view from basel, switzerland

 

a piece danced alone, 2011

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

a piece danced alone, 2011

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

bluff, 2009

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

bluff, 2009

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

dancing, 2009

with participation of students of rietveld academy

amsterdam, the netherlands

 

 

dancing, 2009

with participation of students of rietveld academy

amsterdam, the netherlands

 

 

dream season, 2008

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

dream season, 2008

performance view from zurich, switzerland

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

this side up, 2007

in collaboration with julia born

performance view from london, united kingdom

 

 

handwerk, 2005

performance view from amsterdam, the netherlands

 

handwerk, 2005

performance view from amsterdam, the netherlands

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

show dance, 2004

performance view from brussels, belgium

 

murder mysteries - same difference, 2004

in collaboration with danai anesiadou

brussels, belgium

 

 

murder mysteries - same difference, 2004

in collaboration with danai anesiadou

brussels, belgium

 

 

perfect, 2001

performance view of antwerp, belgium

 

perfect, 2001

performance view of antwerp, belgium

 

Installation Views

Installation Views Thumbnails
installation view notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, kunst halle sankt gallen. photo: e. sommer

installation view notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, kunst halle sankt gallen. photo: e. sommer

installation view obscene: 2020, festival move, centre pompidou, 2023. photo: hervé véronese

installation view obscene: 2020, festival move, centre pompidou, 2023. photo: hervé véronese

installation view 2020: obscene, 2022, kunsthaus zurich, zurich, 2022, photo: franca candrian

installation view 2020: obscene, 2022, kunsthaus zurich, zurich, 2022, photo: franca candrian

installation view an ideal for living, centre culturel suisse à paris, 2018 

installation view an ideal for living, centre culturel suisse à paris, 2018 

installation view massacre: variations on a theme, the museum of modern art, new york, 2017 

 

installation view massacre: variations on a theme, the museum of modern art, new york, 2017 

 

installation view from a to b via c, museo jumex, 2014.

installation view from a to b via c, museo jumex, 2014.

installation view notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, kunst halle sankt gallen. photo: e. sommer

installation view notebook: mermaid porn, 2023, kunst halle sankt gallen. photo: e. sommer

installation view obscene: 2020, festival move, centre pompidou, 2023. photo: hervé véronese

installation view obscene: 2020, festival move, centre pompidou, 2023. photo: hervé véronese

installation view 2020: obscene, 2022, kunsthaus zurich, zurich, 2022, photo: franca candrian

installation view 2020: obscene, 2022, kunsthaus zurich, zurich, 2022, photo: franca candrian

installation view an ideal for living, centre culturel suisse à paris, 2018 

installation view an ideal for living, centre culturel suisse à paris, 2018 

installation view massacre: variations on a theme, the museum of modern art, new york, 2017 

 

installation view massacre: variations on a theme, the museum of modern art, new york, 2017 

 

installation view from a to b via c, museo jumex, 2014.

installation view from a to b via c, museo jumex, 2014.

alexandra bachzetsis - Artists - Kurimanzutto

notable solo exhibitions

Her most recent solo exhibitions and selected performances include: Rush(es), Lugano Dance project at LAC Lugano (2026); Centre Pompidou X Grand Palais, Paris (2025), Kunsthaus Zürich (2025); Arsenic — Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne, Swiss (2025); Hellenic Centre, London (2025); and Kaserne Basel, Switzerland (2025); Gold, Istituto Svizzero, Milano (2025); Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne, Swiss (2025); and Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich (2025); Exposure, Milanoltre Festival, Milano (2025); Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland (2024); Piktoram, Warsaw, Poland (2024); Dansens hus, Stockholm (2024); and Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne, Swiss (2024); Perfect Gold This Side Up, Piktoram, Warsaw, Poland (2024); Notes on Becoming —Experimenter, Ballygunge Place, Calcutta (2024); Notebook, kurimanzutto, New York (2024); performed at Tanzquartier, Vienna, Austria (2024); Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, Switzerland (2023); EinTanzHaus Mannheim, Germany (2023); and MART Rovereto, Italy (2023); 2020: Obscene, Gessnerallee Zurich, Switzerland (2021); Kiasma Theatre/Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, Finland (2022); Stegi Onassis/Onassis Foundation, Athens (2022); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2023); Nowy Teatr, Warsaw, Poland (2023); and Gessnerallee, Halle Ost, Zurich, Switzerland (2024); Instruction Pieces, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin (2019); Chasing a Ghost, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois (2019); performed at Gessnerallee Zürich, Switzerland (2019); Tanzquartier Wien, Austria (2020); Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxemburg, (2020); Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, Germany (2020), among others; Escape Act, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, Zurich, Switzerland (2019); also performed at Pioneer Works, New York (2019); An ideal for living, Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris (2018); Private: Wear a mask when you talk to me & Private Song, High Line Art, New York and Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo, Brazil (2018); Massacre: Variations on a Theme, Centre Pompidou, Paris and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (2017); Private: Wear a mask when you talk to me, Centre Culturel Suisse, París and Dampfzentrale Bern, Switzerland (2017); Gold, Power Station of Art (PSA), Shanghai and Wing | Platform for Performance, Hong Kong, China (2016); From A to B via C, Onassis Cultural Centre–Athens and Serralves Foundation–Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto, Portugal (2015); also performed at Kulturzentrum Rote Fabrik, Zürich, Switzerland (2015); and Museo Jumex, Mexico City (2014); Alexandra Bachzetsis, Bonner Kunstverein und Artothek, Bonn, Germany (2014); The Stages of Staging, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2013); L’Escorte, CAC Brétigny, Paris (2011); Play, Kunsthaus Glarus, Switzerland (2010); Show, Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland (2008); Show Dance, de Appel, Ámsterdam (2006); among many others.

selected festivals, biennials and collective exhibitions

Alexandra Bachzetsis has also participated in the following international festivals, biennials and group shows: Rush(es), Biennale Son Sion, Swiss (2025); Exposure, Milanoltre Festival, Milano (2025); Rehearsal, Piktoram, Warsaw, Poland (2025); Hannah Villiger: Amaze Me, Muzeum Susch, Switzerland (2023); TODOS JUNTOS (All Together), kurimanzutto, New York (2022); Moving Bodies, Moving Images, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2022); Arta Sperto: Dance first. Think later, Le Commun, Bâtiment d’art contemporain (BAC), Geneva, Switzerland (2020); Les Spectacles Vivants, Centre Pompidou, Paris (2019); dOCUMENTA (14), Kassel, Germany (2017); Tanz im August Festival, Berlin (2017); Meteor — Performing Arts Festival, Bergen, Norway (2017); Festival FAB, Bordeaux, France (2016); Let’s Dance, Art Stations Foundation, Poznan, Poland (2015); Elevation 1049, Lumen Foundation, diverse locations, Switzerland (2014); Le Movement. 12th Swiss Sculpture Exhibition, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland (2014); art berlin Fair for Modern and Contemporary Art (2013); dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012); 3rd Thessaloniki Biennále of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece (2011); Something Raw. Internationale dans- en performancefestival, Amsterdam (2009); 5th Berlin Biennale (2008); If I Can’t Dance, I Don’t Want to Be Part Of Your Revolution, Edition II, De Appel, Amsterdam (2007); Emotion Pictures, M HKA- Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, Belgium (2005), among others.

 

Videos