Valeria Caflisch
After finishing high school in Switzerland I moved to Sicily, Italy, where I worked in display windows, while studying sculpture at the Fine Art Academy. I then moved around working in wall conservation of medieval churches and studying cultures in Indonesia, Berlin and the United States.
Having grown between three different cultures made my transcultural experiences become my "fil rouge" for my interest in anthropology, ethnology and the idea of the "Other".
From 2010-2013 I studied painting at the Corcoran College in Washington and started to exhibit. My work questions social constructs and ways of perception in diverse society. Interested since my youth in the idea of social sculpture and the Erweiterte Kunstbegriff, I studied social pedagogy and social culture in Bern, discovering social philosophy and in particular deconstructionist theories. I then started participative projects with intergenerational groups "GiM" and with focus on the perception of art by Alzheimer "TimSlips".
Actually I'm interested in Ping-Pong Art, an art which builds up (or tares down) from participation and interaction between the artist and it's environment. It's built on improvisation, and changes through interaction, it involves the Other as an actif part of the art event or art piece:
The Pompon project, Resilience, Sant'Agata at the fishmarket, Give me your breast!Since 2013 I am member of Visarte Swiss, where I'm on the board of the admission committee. In 2016 I co-organised the event of the 150 years of Visarte Fribourg. Since 2019 together with Atelier à la X and artist colleagues, Klakla Wojtek and Isabelle Pilloud, we started the cultural association KIV. The association organises monthly "Flash Expos" and "Werkgespräche" with invited artists to fill the gap between artists and their public.
Paradox and deconstruction
Je travaille sur l’incertitude du sens. Avec un intérêt constant, comme dirait Derrida, aux « cadres » ou au « marges » des choses. Le paradoxe et la déconstruction sont pour moi mouvement même de l’attention à l’autrui.
September 2017Exhibitions
2020-2021
Museum Murten Exchange project terra-terre between Fribourg and Catania (Italy) with participation of 9 artists, 2 curators. Organized and coordinated by V.Caflisch2019
Musée d'art et d'histoire Fribourg MEMOIRES VIVES Création contemporaine et patrimoine Fribourg "GIB MIR DEINE BRUST!"2018
Congrès TRANS (20ème journée ASSA) Genève "TRANS-FORMATION" performance
Musée d'art et d'histoire Fribourg LE CAFE: une soif de société "CARTE BLANCHE" pour l'Atelier à la X
Senslermuseum, Tafers "LARVAE SESAMENSIS"
Pescheria di Catania Italy, "W S.AGATA!"2017
Le Tunnel, Fribourg EXPO HOSTIES aux tunnel "ETRE"
Eglise des Capucins, EXPO LES MINIMES
Romont "LA FORME RESILIENTE"
Ancienne Gare, Fribourg REFUGE
DarBellage, Marakech,Marocco "POMPON PROJECT"2016
Musée Gruérien, ARTISTES CONTRE LA TERREUR
Fribourg,150 ANS VISARTE Place George-Python "INCLUSION"
Salon des femmes Forum Bulle "VALERIA ET MARCELLA"2015
Blue Factory Fribourg ART POSITION2014
Musée du Papier Peint Mézière VIS-A-VIS VISARTE2013
Circle Gallery Annapolis EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Washington DC
Gallery102 George Washington University, DC, SANDY2012
Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington DC, WHITE HALL
Hillyer's Nin9 Gallery, Washington DC, PERSONAL SHOW
Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington DC, GALLERY 31
Artomatic Cristal City, Virginia
Batista Fine Art Washington DC2011
Corcoran College of Art and Design,Washington DC, WHITE HALL,
Stanford-Bing Gallery, Washington DCWorkexperience
2016- Atelier à la X, Fribourg, Werkgespräche with invited artists
2016- Sesam School, St Wolfgang, Teaching Artist
2013- Musee d'Art et d'Histoire Fribourg, Teaching Artist
2013-17 BFH Bern, Socialstudies and work at Espace Femme
2009-13 Corcoran College of Art and Design, Painting degree
2009-13 Kreeger Museum Washington DC, Teaching Artist
2005-09 Musee d'Art et d'Histoire Fribourg, Teaching Artist
2002-05 Berlin
1999-02 Indonesian National Museum Jakarta, Teaching Artist
1995-99 Kunstmuseum Bern, Teaching Artist
1994-95 Atelier ACR Fribourg, Wallpainting Conservation,
1990-94 MA Fine Art Accademy, Catania, Italy