Born in New York in 1956, Cathy Josefowitz spent her childhood and adolescence in Geneva, Switzerland. The artist’s lifelong fascination with the bodily experience was sparked in part by her study of stage design at the Théâtre National de Strasbourg from 1972 – 1973. After attending the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris from 1973 – 1978, Josefowitz studied performing arts and new dance at the renowned Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England from 1979 to 1983 and later choreography at the SNND School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam from 1987 – 1988. During her time in England, Josefowitz became involved in political activism, taking part in demonstrations, marches and conferences supporting both the feminist movement and the gay and lesbian liberation movement. Mirroring the increase in her engagement in political activism and feminism, Josefowitz’s art intensified its representation of female sensation and feeling.
The presentation takes its title from Josefowitz’s choreographic piece ‘Release’ (1988), a performance replete with fluid movements that is projected on the wall of the gallery. Drawing on the Anatomical Release technique pioneered by dance teacher and choreographer Mary Fulkerson, Josefowitz falls, twists and rolls in order to let go of tension and cultivate creativity, liberating her body and mind. This feeling of liberation is translated into her later works through the gradual shift from figuration to abstraction. Her relentless and personal quest for expression unites the various works on view in Zurich, with some exhibiting elements of self-portraiture.
Josefowitz’s exploration of the corporeal manifests in works from the 1970s that are filled with figures, predominately female, reclining or in varying states of repose. Her oils on cardboard, such as ‘Untitled’ (ca. 1974), are characterised by colourful backgrounds portraying domestic interiors, influenced by the artist’s exploration of stage design. The unnaturalistic colour and vivid brushstrokes of this period, particularly apparent in Josefowitz’s gouches on paper, recall the work of fauvists Henri Matisse and André Derain, who rejected three-dimensionality in their painting practice. Similarly, Josefowitz flattens the body by using a black contour line upon the solid color plane to portray the profile of the nude figure; yet, Josefowitz challenges the traditional depiction of the reclining nude through her female gaze and contemporary position. The simplification of the subjects’ form makes the work appear abstract and demonstrates the ever-evolving nature of her practice.
These paintings are complemented by figurative works from the early 1990s in which Josefowitz’s visual language enters a new phase, revealing a different way of working with the body through a shift in pattern, style and form. Using various combinations of oil, gouache, charcoal, pastel or chalk, the artist’s biomorphic subjects reached a new level of simplification, becoming indistinguishable from the chairs on which they rest. ‘Untitled’ (1993) exemplifies this movement towards a more non-representational style, achieved by a focus on shape of the figure and bold planes of color. Releasing her subjects from historic depictions of the female body, Josefowitz reveals a unique awareness of and sensitivity to the physical forms of the self. The backgrounds of the works have also entered a transformation, characterised by geometric patterns and curvilinear forms, resulting in the isolation of the figure in space.
This development is also charted in her series of watercolour paintings on receipts (1988 – 1992) exploring the female nude on a more intimate scale. A travelogue of her trip from Parma to Vienna in the summer of 1988, these works exhibit elements of autobiography. Using watercolor and ink, the contorted limbs and fluid brushstrokes in ‘Le Vieux Bistrot - Paris’ (1991) evoke Josefowitz’s flexible movements in ‘Release,’ whilst the checkered background of ‘Trattoria dall’Amelia – Mestre’ (1992) alludes to her stylized domestic interiors from the 1970s and geometric patterns from the 1990s.
The figurative realm soon gave way to increasing abstraction with Josefowitz’s Prayers series (1998 – 2001). Depicting prayer shawls and mats, the artist uses a freedom of expression beyond the constraints of the figurative and the abstract. Often named after family members or a place she loved, such as ‘Parme’ (c 2001) or ‘Patisserie Égyptienne’ (1999), these large-format paintings see Josefowitz using a reduced color palette.
These are placed in tandem with the similarly monumental Venus series (2004 – 2006). Josefowitz became increasingly engaged in the physicality of creation, intersecting her performative and pictorial practices by working on the floor of her studio instead of the wall. For these works, the artist placed fabric on the canvas in a dynamic position and traced around it; the resulting abstracted forms, painted in blocks of colour, express the body’s presence and represent self-portraits. The freedom and movement of these forms are juxtaposed with depictions of static reclining nudes that revist tropes of womanhood from classicism, referenced through titles such as ‘D’après I’Olympia de Manet’ (2004 – 2005) and ‘D’Après la Vénus de Titien’ (2004 – 2006). Harking back to her work of the 1970s that challenged the traditional male gaze of art history, the Venus series articulates the different configurations a human body can take as a form of both resilience and liberation. In surveying the development and revisitations of the artist’s visual language, this exhibition attests to Josefowitz’s enduring determination to depict the figure in both its anatomical and metaphysical dimensions.

Zurich

Switzerland

Searching for information and tickets regarding Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich taking place in Zurich on Feb 1–May 17, 2024 (UTC+1)? Trip.com has you covered. Check the dates, itineraries, and other information about Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich now! Trip.com has also prepared more similar exciting activities and discounted flight and hotel packages.

Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich: Tickets, Dates & Itineraries | Trip.com

Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Cathy Josefowitz. Release

Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Trip.com

null | Trip.com

Share your results and see what your friends think!

Park Hyatt Zurich

Luxury Hotels

Baur au Lac

Grossmunster

Historic buildings

SUNSHINE ONUS

The Cathedral of Zurich is one of the three main churches in Zurich, Switzerland, and is designed to incorporate a variety of architectural styles such as Romanesque, post-Gothic and neo-Gothic. Its most distinctive feature is the towering twin towers, which makes it also known as the &quot;Cathedral of Zurich Twin Towers&quot;. The interior of the church is simple and reflects the style of the 16th century Reformation. The church has stained glass windows created by Swiss modern art master Giacometti, whose artistic masterpieces are painted glass. In addition, the church&#39;s underground church and the seat of the Saints are older parts of the existing history, dating back to the late 11th century and early 12th century, and still can see traces of the frescoes on the decoration.

Swiss National Museum

Book now for tomorrow

Museums

横竖是二温小迪

On the first day of landing in Zurich, it happened to rain, so I went to visit the National Museum next to the train station. You can get free tickets with Swiss pass, and the staff also gave you a coin to send a package. The storage and toilet are on the basement floor, and small suitcases should be able to be stored.

The exhibits on the first floor of the Swiss Museum can be guided in Chinese, but there is no Chinese guide on the second floor. The exhibits are not very interesting to me, but the museum is not bad, and there are not many people, which is suitable for checking in and taking pictures. In addition, the small gadgets in the gift shop are also very cute, but the prices are not beautiful.

La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich

Instagrammable Hotels

Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich

Widder Hotel - Zurichs Luxury Hideaway

Bahnhofstrasse

Show闲队长

Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich&#39;s most famous shopping street, luxurious and full of vitality! It is full of top brand stores, exquisite cafes and century-old shops, which is very stylish to visit. The street is clean and elegant, with trams running through it, retro and modern. Although the prices are high, the window viewing and street photography are worth it! It is recommended to experience the exquisite life in Switzerland, remember to bring your wallet~

Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)

Themed exhibition halls

The Zurich Art Museum is really conscientious. You can see paintings for free on Wednesdays, and storage is also free.

There are more works of famous painters in the new museum. If you don&rsquo;t have enough time, go directly to the new museum. You can see the works of famous painters such as Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, etc. here up close. It is really a super generous museum. I feel that there are a lot of Monet&#39;s paintings.

Fraumunster Church

Zurich&#39;s Frauenkirche is a must-visit landmark! The twin towers are very eye-catching, and the green spires are very photogenic. The interior of the church is simple and elegant, with beautiful stained windows and murals. You can also overlook the beautiful scenery of the whole city from the tower. The location is very convenient, right on the Limmat River, across the river from the cathedral opposite. It is free to visit, quiet and sacred, and suitable for daydreaming and taking photos. Don&#39;t miss it when you come to Zurich!

Recommended Products for Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Time:	Feb 1–May 17, 2024 (UTC+1) ENDED
Location:	Limmatstrasse 270, CH-8005

Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Details

Vote

Are you interested in Cathy Josefowitz. Release?

Recommended Products for Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Park Hyatt Zurich

Baur au Lac

Grossmunster

Swiss National Museum

La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich

Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich

Widder Hotel - Zurichs Luxury Hideaway

Bahnhofstrasse

Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)

Fraumunster Church

Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Details

Vote

Are you interested in Cathy Josefowitz. Release?

Recommended Products for Cathy Josefowitz. Release | Zurich

Park Hyatt Zurich

Baur au Lac

Grossmunster

Swiss National Museum

La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich

Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich

Widder Hotel - Zurichs Luxury Hideaway

Bahnhofstrasse

Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)

Fraumunster Church

More contents about Zurich