about
Isabell Bullerschen (she/her) is interested in slimy organisms and the construction and blending of realities. Through installations and videos, she explores the potential that lies in the deconstruction and rewriting of narratives. She employs a meta-surgical method in which her work serves as a scalpel to dissect anthropocentrism. The binary narrow-mindedness of human relationships of all kinds are cut open and insides are turned out. The pseudo-reality created by language means a moment of shock for her, communication by means of language an illusion: construction through language leads to isolation. So she relies on the knowledge gained from sensory experience that she puts in contrast to the empirical or argumentative approach of the supposedly objective science and which is able to overcome the state of shock and isolation.
EDUCATION
2014—2017
MA Fine Arts, Zurich University of the Arts, CH
2016
Photography and Video, School of Visual Arts New York, US
2010—2014
BA Communication in Social and Economic Contexts, University of the Arts Berlin, DE
AWARDS & HONORS
2023
Artist grant, Canton of Zurich
2022
Artist grant, UBS Kulturstiftung
Working grant, City of Zurich
2021
Working grant, Canton of Zurich
Artist grant, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
Project fundings by Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Gwärtler Stiftung and Dr. Adolf Streuli-Stiftung
Working grant, City of Zurich
2020
Project fundings by NAB Kulturstiftung, Stadt Aarau, Hans und Lina Blattner Stiftung, Aargauer Kuratorium
2019
Artist Grant Aargauer Kuratorium 19
2018
Women CineMakers Biennial Edition Official Selection
2015
Artist Grant Aargauer Kuratorium 15
EXHIBITIONS & SCREENINGS
2025
MEET, Digital Culture Center, Milano, ITA (upcoming)
MU Hybrid Art House, Eindhoven, NLD (upcoming)
Night Pieces: A Foreign Body Within, IMAGOKINETICS, OōEli Art park, Hangzhou, CHN
Other Intelligences, HEK (Haus der elektronischen Künste), Basel, CH
2024
Cairo Video Festival, Cairo, EGY
Phlegm, Kunstkasten Winterthur, CH (solo)
Night Pieces: A Foreign Body Within, Three Shadows Photography and Art Centre, Xiamen, CHN
Brunnen, Neu!, Winterthur, CH
2023
Werkschau Kanton Zürich, Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, CH Intra Loggia, Zurich, CH
Hox Edit Extinction, Baby Angel, Zurich, CH
A City Beyond: Re-thinking Co-habitation, We Are AIA, Löwenbraukunst, Zurich, CH
2022
dä 13. / holiday bonus (editions & films), unanimous consent, Zurich, CH
No Cure, Attempt Studio, Zurich, CH
Nach dem Winter taut der Schnee, Hrüze Gegi, Winterthur, CH
2021
Bestia Rara, Trudelhaus, Baden, CH
Werk- und Atelierstipendien 2021 Stadt Zürich, Helmhaus, Zurich, CH
Issue de secours, Stiftung Binz39, Zurich, CH
ohm, Former, Brussels, BEL
2020
720, Eck – Raum für Kunst, Aarau, CH (solo)
Corporeality: When can a body be said to exist?, Cuadro22, Chur, CH
Videoex Experimental Film and Video Festival, Zurich, CH
Art With Heart, Online Charity Exhibition, CH
Moultpoesie, Lyon, FR
2019
Auswahl 19, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau, CH
LUFF Lausanne Underground Film Festival, Lausanne, CH
e-dentity, Mini Digital Festival, Kein Museum, Zurich, CH
RAZOR CORTEX, Kein Museum, Zurich, CH (solo)
2018
Kunst: Szene Zürich 2018, Stundengalerie curated by Kevin Aeschbacher, Zurich, CH
house warming, HAMLET, Zurich, CH
Volumes 2018, Art Publishing Fair, Booth Kunstverein Spieglerey, Kunsthalle Zürich, Zurich, CH
Louvre Liquidation (-90% Museum) tiny show, RETA, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH
Position, Kunstverein Spieglerey, Projektraum 13 Dynamo, Zurich, CH
Determination, NATURA OPERANS, Kunstverein Spieglerey, Projektraum 13 Dynamo, Zurich, CH (solo)
2017
MA Fine Arts Degree Show, MFA Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH
2016
teilungen, MA Fine Arts Degree Show, MFA Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH
Nichtmensch, Kunstverein Spieglerey, Galerie Römerapotheke, Zurich, CH
LIMBO, Reto Ganz, exhibition space Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH (solo)
2015
Auswahl 15, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau, CH
Kein Wunder, dass es zittert, Novilla, Berlin, DE
Vue sur mer, Assemblage with Thomas Knüsel & Jeroen Singer, Reunion, Zurich, CH
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2017/18
Founding and Curation RETA, MFA exhibition program Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH
2015
YOU ARE THE ARTIST . THE SHIFT, Freudenreich, Berlin, DE
2014
YOU ARE THE ARTIST . THE HAPPENING VOL. II, Direktorenhaus, Berlin, DE
DADA Cinema, Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich, CH
PROJECTS
2017
Interverbal Communication / Chat Rave, workshop at the Independent Summerschool Zurich, in collaboration with Lara Holenweger
2014
Imbued with soft infinities, MFA Symposium, Collaboration: Concept und Realisation, Zurich, CH
PERFORMANCES
2018
Literaturtelefon, Reading, 24h Shop, Zurich, CH
2017
John Baldessari‘s Ear Sofa; Nose Sconces with Flowers (in Stage Setting) (2009/2017), Art Basel, Basel, CH
Veli&Amos’ Cliff’s 23rd Birthday, Tranzition, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, CH
PUBLICATIONS
2018
Women CineMakers meets Art and Independent Cinema, Special Edition, vol. 11, interview, Online Publication, London, UK and Berlin, DE
Art & Crisis, MA Fine Arts Degree Show 2017, Rap and Beautiful Trouble, p. 174-175, p. 183, JRP|Ringier, Zurich, CH
2016
Holy Shit - Katalog einer verschollenen Ausstellung, p. 124-126, contribution together with Kevin Kopacka, diaphanes, Zurich, CH
Ensuite Art Magazin, No. 157, Januar 2016, p. 68-69, Interview, interwerk gmbh, Bern, CH
