Exploring Action and Participation in Contemporary Art at Kunsthaus Baselland
Contemporary art often asks viewers to step beyond passive observation and mentally engage with the works before them. At Kunsthaus Baselland, a comprehensive group presentation brings together film, sound, textile installations, and live performances to investigate how physical and mental activation shapes the artistic experience. Curated by Ines Goldbach, the exhibition features contributions from several prominent international and regional creators, inviting visitors to reflect on the concept of action as a work of art.
What to Expect from the Exhibition
The showcase explores different dimensions of participation, questioning whether a performance strictly requires a live act or if the imagination of the visitor is enough to activate a piece. Among the featured creators are Annika Kahrs, Rosalind Nashashibi, Juliette Uzor, and Franz Erhard Walther, alongside fresh spatial and performative contributions from the Doing Fashion graduates of the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW.
Visitors navigating the rooms will encounter a diverse array of media. Annika Kahrs presents Le Chant des Maisons, a video installation filmed inside a deconsecrated church in Lyon, where a youth choir interacts with the sounds of carpenters constructing a wooden structure. Franz Erhard Walther contributes expansive, participatory cotton objects that encourage visitors to mentally step inside the geometry of the work. Rosalind Nashashibi’s film The Invisible Worm weaves together personal and political motifs, while Juliette Uzor draws on historical anatomy illustrations and Heinrich von Kleist’s writings on marionette theater to create a stage-like environment for live dance and movement.
Visitor Information and Local Context
For those planning a visit to this contemporary-art institution in the Dreispitz district, the exhibition runs alongside a rich schedule of live performances, guided tours, and workshops. Media coverage from outlets such as Radio X, Schweizer Illustrierte, Badische Zeitung, and Novembre Global has highlighted the dynamic interplay between fashion, performance, and sculptural design on display.
To discover more cultural highlights and upcoming exhibitions across the city, you can explore the curated guides available on Musemap (musemap.art), browse the whats-on exhibitions, or use the interactive map view to plan your next visit.
