Screening, Reading & Talk

This event was organized by TheArtists celebrating the publication of the Cahiers d'Artistes 2023, designed and published by Jungle Books. It was part of a series of eight individual formats – including screenings, performances, talks and readings – with each artist who realized an artist book with the support of Pro Helvetia in 2023: Patricia Bucher, Martin Chramosta, Maria Guta, Thomas Julier, David Knuckey, Rhona Mühlebach, Gabriel Stöckli and Eva Zornio. The programme took place between October and December 2023 at various locations in Switzerland. For those interested, they offered the opportunity to obtain a copy of the small edition Cahiers.

Hotel Europa, 150 x 200 mm, 308 pages (published by Jungle Books)

Martin Chramosta studied at Basel Academy of Art and Design and Vienna University of Applied Arts. He works mostly with the mediums of sculpture, drawing and performance. In his work, Chramosta examines the contemporary value and social relevance of historical forms. Drawing on this inspiration, he uses a variety of media to create material and non-material assemblages, often working with found items and objects or forming them from clay, wax or plaster. Important references for his work include the aesthetics (and materials) of real socialism, historical architecture and heraldry.

In his Cahier, entitled «Hotel Europa», Martin Chramosta presents an impressive collection of photographs. The approximately 300-page book contains images that Chramosta collected over the last five years as photographic sketches and notes. They document objects, moments and monuments, providing a fascinating glimpse into his work process. The selection of images conveys stories about work and travel, locations and spaces. Using the language of photography, Martin Chramosta invites readers to take a deep dive into his world and creation process. The photographs stand out for their clarity, their aesthetic composition and their ability to capture the essence of the places and objects depicted in them.

The publication contains a short story by Ann-Kathrin Eickhoff, written following a conversation with the artist about Los Angeles, Rome, art in public spaces, hotels and writers. The story complements the visual impressions and creates a resonant space for Chramosta’s images.

Ann-Kathrin Eickhoff (lives and works in Zurich and Berlin) is an author, curator, and currently artistic co-director of Halle für Kunst Lüneburg. Previously, she worked as a curator at Kunstverein Nürnberg and at the ETH Zurich, where she also studied.