Art Basel’s ‘Meet the artists’ series presents contemporary creatives shaping today’s cultural landscape.
Marianna Simnett’s film installations, theatrical performances, and sculptures invite viewers to navigate landscapes where reality and fantasy converge. The experience is often as unsettling as it is stimulating. ‘My work can be characterized by its extreme commitment to go to all lengths to convey a point,’ she says in our latest episode of ‘Meet the artists.’ ‘Sometimes people find it disturbing, unsettling, too extreme, very emotional, very psychologically affecting, funny, scary, and hopefully a whole spectrum of feelings.’
In the film, the London-born takes us on a tour of her home base, Berlin. While stopping at some of her favorite local spots, she talks about knowing she was an artist from age three, finding a haven in her work, and her classical training in the piano and flute. Along the way, we visit her current exhibition at Hamburger Bahnhof. Titled ‘WINNER,’ it is an unflinching exploration of the human condition, confronting themes of violence, resilience, and vulnerability.
The exhibition is part of the UEFA Euro 2024 art and culture program, with the soccer championship providing a compelling backdrop to Simnett’s work. The anticipation and national pride that accompany the tournament echo the competitive spirit and emotional intensity that permeates ‘WINNER.’ Here, Simnett juxtaposes the triumphs and tribulations of athletes with the human struggle, creating a dialogue between the world of sports and the realm of art. To make the film, Simnett embedded herself in soccer conducting extensive research through books and podcasts, interviewing players and referees, and trips to games and the DFB academy in Frankfurt. ‘I was very interested in turning football and injury on its head and turning it into a dance,’ she says ‘I was interested in dissolving the line between documentary and fiction.’
Marianna Simnett is represented by Société (Berlin). Her exhibition ‘WINNER’ is on view at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart through November 3, 2024.
