Eggs Bitschin

Eggs Bitschin installed in the park of the psychiatric clinic of Geneva, Belle-Idée, a temporary structure initially titled Cellule (Cell) and re-titled Unité (Unit) at the request of the direction of the psychiatry.

This utopian architecture, an open and translucent room, based on the floor plan of a security chamber of the clinic, was the main proposition of the event États d’Âme conceived and organized by the same artists and around which exhibitions, installations and conferences took place.A utopian architecture is the site of possibilities (Guatarri‟s possibles), where an initial encounter between artists and caretakers can take place to discuss informally the questions pertaining to the idea of representation in general and of psychiatry in particular, and thus during these interdisciplinary exchanges preconceived ideas can be abolished or at least their mechanisms revealed. How to deconstruct preconceptions without naming them?

The intent of this artwork was to translate in the open field, with permeable and soft materials, an inside space, solid and closed, which is still today the subject of many fantasies whereas the simple idea of its existence should de unbearable. The paradox of „locking up in order to protect‟ is a complex, arduous concept that makes sense and no sense at all. How to understand what is really at stake? Perhaps, in starting to dismantle misconceptions, in sharing each of our knowledge and ignorance, respecting of particular practices but outside of any specific practice and while withholding judgment. For example in discussing freely about a work of art such as the one proposed by Eggs Bitschin and at this occasion allowing for naivety, in the sense of a non formatted point of view, and inviting a mixed audience.

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Anne-Laure Oberson