VALERIE REDING
Biography
Valerie Reding is a transdisciplinary artist based in Switzerland and Luxembourg.
After training as a classical ballet dancer in Luxembourg, they studied Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of technology in Zurich and Media Arts at the Universities of the Arts in Zurich and Vienna. Besides their academic studies, they worked internationally as a makeup artist in fashion and film, and explored the art of drag in San Francisco’s and Zurich’s nightclubs.
Today, they combine all these experiences in their eclectic artistic practice oscillating between performance, photography, video, text, installation, costume design, event curation and drag and work independently as well as collaboratively in varying contexts ranging from underground and nightlife spaces to theaters, galleries and other art institutions, defying any kind of hierarchical categorization of the art world.
Intrigued by the complexities of human psychology, interpersonal relationships, societal power dynamics and pop culture, they explore the potential of vulnerability, auto-fiction, togetherness, transformation and camp to explore questions around subjectivity and relationality.
As their drag alter-ego VulVenim - a seductive, poisonous, gender-fucking and gore-loving shapeshifter - they continue to create thought-provoking live queerlesque performances.
They are also the creative director, producer and host of the queer and sex-positive party WET DREAMZ - a community event with various artistic interventions that celebrates all bodies, identities and sexualities in a safer space where no racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, nor any other oppressive or discriminatory behaviors are accepted.
Their works have been shown in galleries such as Commonwealth & Council (Los Angeles), Last Tango (Zurich), FORMA Art Contemporain (Lausanne), LAC (Vevey Images festival) and Deep Trash by CUNTemporary (London), they have performed at festivals like La Bâtie (Geneva), zürich moves!, Zürich Tanzt, The Queer Biennial II (Los Angeles), La Fête du Slip (Lausanne), The Porny Days (Zurich), Luststreifen Film Festival (Basel), Superball (Amsterdam) and the Queer Little Lies festival (Luxembourg) as well as at theaters like Rote Fabrik (Zurich), Tanzhaus Zürich, Dampfzentrale (Berne), Arsenic (Lausanne), Théâtre St. Gervais (Geneva), Counterpulse (San Francisco), Escher Theater (Luxembourg) and TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois.
They have collaborated with artists and curators like Simone Aughterlony, Martin Zimmermann, Lukas Beyeler, Marc Streit, Malika Fankha, BORA, Aron Smith, Daniel Hellmann, Simone Mousset, Renelde Pierlot, William Cardoso, Cee Füllemann, Thomas Giger, Rafal Pierzyński, Monique Jenkinson, Ivy Monteiro, Lhaga Koondhor, Alexander Martinz, Moon and Oil Productions.
Selection of Performances and Exhibitions
2023:
monsters
solo performance and spatial installation combining photography, painting, sound and text
6-12 February 2023: research residency at Tanzhaus Zürich
11-21 October 2023: creation residency at Grand Studio Bruxelles
3 November 2023: premiere of monsters at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois
6 November 2023 - 5 January 2024: extract of monsters exhibited at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois
solo performance combining movement, text, sound and video
11-21 October 2023: creation residency at Grand Studio Bruxelles
15 December 2023: premiere within SOL INVICTUS: Sounds and performances for the winter solstice at Istituto Svizzero in Milano
long-durational one-on-one performance
2 September 2023: at Tanzhaus Zürich
photographic series
8 October 2023 - 5 January 2024: solo exhibition of HVNGRY for more and HVNGRY at Rainbow Center by Rosa Lëtzebuerg
a queer, sex-positive party with various artistic interventions
1 July 2023: in collaboration with Oil Productions Buenos Aires, Summercamp by Clubbüro, Checkpoint Zurich and saferparty.ch at Rote Fabrik in Zurich
2022:
DOING HER - the slur edition
long-durational, one-on-one performance
4 March 2022: performance DOING HER - the slur edition at the art space FORDE in Geneva in collaboration with photographer Lukas Beyeler, DJs Esengo and KA-RABA as well as performer Nicolas Dubosson
photographic series
3 February - 4 April 2022: exhibition of HVNGRY for more at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois in Luxembourg
26 June - 2 July 2022: exhibition of HVNGRY for more within the group exhibition ICON.X at Atelier d’En Face in Lausanne, curated by Etienne Germain, within the program of La Pride de Nuit
29 July - 3 September 2022: exhibition of HVNGRY for more within the festival La Dérivée in Yverdon-les-Bains and in collaboration with CACY Centre Art Contemporain Yverdon-les-Bains, curated by Rolando Bassetti
a queer, sex-positive party
23 April 2022: in collaboration with the festival zürich moves! x forever imbricated initiated by Simone Aughterlony and Marc Streit, at Rote Fabrik in Zurich
photographic series
3 - 6 March 2022: exhibition of HVNGRY at the art space FORDE in Geneva
performance
17 - 14 January 2022: performance within the project HOW TO HOST A GHOST at the Luxembourgish Pavilion at WORLD EXPO DUBAI 2020 under the direction of choreographers Simone Mousset and Renelde Pierlot and in collaboration with artists Malika Fankha, Catherine Elsen, Tara Fatehi, Anna Khlyostkina and Alicja (Alka) Naumann
VulVenim
29 October 2022: performance at Kweer Ball in Zurich
Sueño Mojado
3 September 2022: performance at Sueño Mojado curated and organized by the collective Oil Productions in Buenos Aires, Argentina
2021:
m.a.d. - about you
online video performance in collaboration with Aron Smith and Ivy Monteiro
3 February 2021: 8 online video performances of m.a.d.- about you within the 3 du TROIS organized by TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois (LU)
30 May 2021: 6 online video performances of m.a.d.- about you within the ZÜRICH TANZT 2021 festival in Zurich (CH)
VulVenim
10 | 11 September 2021: live dance and drag performance within Zurich By Night at La Bâtie festival in Geneva (CH) together with Marc Streit, Titilayo Adebayo, Edwin Ramirez, DJ O-H and Mattia Dagani Rio
9 December 2021: performance within the project Forever Imbricated at Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris (FR), curated by Simone Aughterlony and Marc Streit
DOING HER - the slur edition - Only Witches and Vampires
long-durational, one-on-one performance
26 August 2021: performance DOING HER - the slur edition at Kulturfolger in Zurich (CH) in collaboration with Ivy Monteiro, Tracy September and Nicolas Dubosson
KUK Live: Valerie Reding X Melting Pol
live video performance
3 March 2021: performance for KUK Live Session 6 - Valerie Reding X Melting Pol live on KulturKanal Lëtzebuerg at 1535° Creative Hub Differdange (LU), in collaboration with Paul Schumacher, Jill Crovisier, Aamar, Twin Xxa and Ivy Monteiro
photographic series
3 July - 20 August 2021: exhibition of HVNGRY for more at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois in Luxembourg - postponed COVID-19
26 August - 5 September 2021: exhibition of HVNGRY for more at Kulturfolger in Zurich
24 September - 3 October 2021: exhibition of HVNGRY for more at Warteck in Basel within the exhibition Lust*Art by Luststreifen Film Festival
a queer, sex-positive party
16 October 2021: in collaboration with the collective Oil Productions and the project Camp Fires by Simon W. Marin and Violeta Mansilla at Rote Fabrik in Zurich
2020:
m.a.d. - mutually affirmed deviance
piece by Valerie Reding with Bastien Hippocrate, Ivy Monteiro and Rafał Pierzyński in co-production with Tanzhaus Zürich
3 February 2020: showing at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois (LU)
15 February 2020: showing at Dampfzentrale in Bern (CH)
18 April 2020: showing at Théâtre Sévelin 36 in Lausanne (CH) - cancelled COVID-19
5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 May 2020: shows at Tanzhaus Zürich (CH) - postponed COVID-19
14 May 2020: presentation at Abri in Geneva (CH) Réseau Grand Luxe - cancelled COVID-19
4 September 2020: showing at Tanzhaus Zürich (CH)
3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 November 2020: premiere and 4 shows at Tanzhaus Zürich (CH)
13 November 2020: show at Escher Theater (LU) within the festival Queer Little Lies
HVNGRY
creative direction, concept, photography and performance for this transdisciplinary project combining a photo series with performances and workshops
3 February - 25 August 2020: exhibition at TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois (LU)
29 | 30 May 2020: exhibition, performances and workshops within SPIELACT festival in Geneva (CH) - postponed COVID-19
27 June - 5 July 2020: exhibition, performances and workshops within GENEVA PRIDE in Geneva (CH) - cancelled COVID-19
11 - 13 September 2020: exhibition at Shedhalle and performances and workshops within LILA festival by Milchjugend at Rote Fabrik in Zurich (CH)
12 - 20 November 2020: exhibition at Escher Theater (LU) within the festival Queer Little Lies
why don't you do right
long-durational, one-on-one performance
20 February 2020: performance within SPIELACT festival X Villa Moyard at Morges (CH)
video dance performance with music by Tyler Holmes
3 July 2020: video shown within 3 du TROIS - online at the TROIS C-L Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois (LU)
la vie d'après
concept and photography for a photo series, a DIY facial mask as well as for the cover image of Magazine 360
June 2020: publication of la vie d'après in Magazine 360
House Of Kumkrete
collaboration with Evalyn Eatdith (Ivan Blagajcevic) and Tropikahl Pussy (Ivy Monteiro)
16 May 2020: workshops and mini-ball at Helferei in Zurich within ZÜRICH TANZT festival (CH) - cancelled COVID-19
6 June 2020: workshops and mini-ball at Münsterhof in Zurich within Festspiele Zürich festival (CH) - cancelled COVID-19
Oxy Moron
costume, stage and make-up design for the piece Oxy Moron by Malika Fankha in co-production with Tanzhaus Zürich and brut in Vienna
9 | 11 | 10 March 2020: shows at brut in Vienna (AT)
2019:
Oxy Moron
costume, stage and make-up design for the piece by Malika Fankha in co-production with Tanzhaus Zürich and brut in Vienna
House Of Kumkrete
mini-ball and workshops within the ZÜRICH TANZT festival
why don't you do right
long-durational, one-on-one performance (3h30min) that was shown at the zürich moves! festival at Last Tango, at Miller's in Zurich as well as at Théâtre Saint-Gervais in Geneva within the festival Les Créatives
HVNGRY
creative direction, concept, photography and performance for this transdisciplinary project combining a photo series with exhibitions, performances and workshops at La Datcha in Lausanne as well as at Alpagai in Sion
Anonym Plant - The Ghost of Macunaima
make-up and costume design for the long-durational interactive performance by Emilia Giudicelli
VulVenim
performance at Fierce Motrice at Le Rez in Geneva
DOING HER - the slur edition
performed at La Datcha in Lausanne
2018:
WILD CHILD
solo piece (50min) created within the platform SHOW OFF at Tanzhaus Zürich; shows at La Bellone in Brussels (in cooperation with Tanzhaus Zürich, Grand Studio and Pro Helvetia), at Arsenic in Lausanne within the festival La Fête Du Slip, at TROIS C-L in Luxembourg, at the inaugural CounterPulse Festival in San Francisco and at the Escher Theater in Luxembourg within the Queer Little Lies Festival
House of Kumkrete
drag shows and party (KUMKRETE), produced and performed at the Superball in Amsterdam, at the Klaus Club in Zurich and at the festival Porny Days in Zurich
DOING HER - the slur edition
performed at Le Cabanon in Lausanne
DOING HER
performance, video and photo series exhibited at the PHOTO18 Werkschau in Zurich
VulVenim
performances at Klaus Club in Zurich, at La Cage aux Folles and at Femme Fatale amongst others
2017:
DOING HER - the fetish edition
performed at the festival Porny Days in Zurich
WILD CHILD
short piece performed at Theater am Gleis within the festival Tanzfestival Winterthur and at Tanzhaus Zürich within the short piece platform SHOW-OFF
DOING HER - like Hermann Haller
performance, video and photo series exhibited within the group exhibition Bewegte Körper at Atelier Hermann Haller in Zurich
VulVenim
performances at Cabaret Voltaire, at KUNT at Exil in Zurich and at Genevegas at Motel Campo in Geneva
Metamorphosis
long-durational video exhibited within 3 du TROIS at the TROIS C-L in Luxembourg
Requiem For A Piece Of Meat
costume design for the piece of Daniel Hellmann
2016:
SMILE!
performed during Friday Island - Play(ing) in Luxembourg and at the LAC Galerie within the festival Images Vevey 2016 in Vevey
B.O.M.B.E.D. - Bursting Our Memories By Enchanting Desires
performed at the Queer Biennial II: Yooth - Loss & Found in the Industry Gallery in Los Angeles
Know Thyself ... but not too much
performed at Tanzhaus Zürich within the festival zürich moves!
An-Other Moulting
performed during F?! curated by Marc Streit and Young Chung at Commonwealth & Council in LA and at the gallery FORMA Art Contemporain in Lausanne within the festival La Fête Du Slip
House Of Xanax
performed at the vernissage of the exhibition Trouble at the gallery FORMA Art Contemporain in Lausanne within the festival La Fête Du Slip in collaboration with Lukas Beyeler and Ivan Blagajcevic
VulVenim
performance at KUNT at Exil in Zurich
Odher Portraits
photo series exhibited within Deep Trash from Outer Space in London and at the LAC Galerie within the festival Images Vevey 2016 in Vevey
Metamorphosis (Trailer)
shown by the collective Videotage at the Art Basel Hong Kong
petite mort
exhibited within the exhibition Trouble at the gallery FORMA Art Contemporain in Lausanne within the festival La Fête Du Slip
2015:
Respire
performed at Showroom Z+ gender (ver)handeln at the Zurich University of the Arts
Malleus Maleficarum
performed at the studio Gessnerallee in Zurich
2014:
Human Intersexions
photo series shown at International art festival BorderLand - Hidden Identities & Forbidden Desires in Zaragoza and at the group exhibition BorderBody in Breslau at the gallery MD_S (Miejsce Dla Sztuki)
2013:
Human Intersexions & Metamorphosis
solo exhibition One Night Only in Zurich