Clément Cogitore Brings Contemporary Video and Photography to Kunsthaus Baselland
Contemporary art enthusiasts visiting the Dreispitz district can experience a compelling exploration of imagery, ritual, and digital culture as Kunsthaus Baselland hosts a comprehensive presentation by French filmmaker and visual artist Clément Cogitore. Running as the first part of a two-part exhibition schedule, this showcase marks the artist's first institutional solo presentation in Switzerland following his receipt of the prestigious Prix Marcel Duchamp.
Exploring the Flow of Images and Social Bodies
The exhibition brings together key works from Cogitore’s recent practice, offering visitors an in-depth look at how digital media, historical art references, and contemporary social dynamics intersect. Known for investigating how visual material from advertising, entertainment, and modern social networks shapes daily life, the artist creates an immersive environment that prompts viewers to re-examine their relationship with modern image-making.
Among the prominent pieces on view is the acclaimed 2017 video work Les Indes galantes, which bridges centuries by pairing Jean-Philippe Rameau’s 18th-century baroque opera music with the high-energy movements of Parisian krump dancers. Filmed inside the Opéra National de Paris, the work establishes a powerful dialogue between historical European performance traditions and a contemporary dance form born out of the 1990s Los Angeles protests against police brutality.
Visitors will also encounter photography series such as Digital Desert, which examines military camouflage designed to elude digital surveillance and drone technology, alongside monumental woven works that translate ephemeral digital imagery found on the internet into the enduring craft of tapestry.
Planning Your Visit to Kunsthaus Baselland
For those looking to engage deeper with the artworks, the institution has scheduled a series of public guided tours led by art professionals, providing further context into the themes of surveillance, ritual, and collective behavior explored across Cogitore's films and photographs.
To discover more contemporary art institutions, current exhibitions, and cultural happenings across the city, explore Musemap. Plan your next outing by checking out the museums list, browsing the interactive map, or finding upcoming shows on the what's on exhibitions page.
