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melanie bonajo (they/them/theirs) is an artist, filmmaker, sexological bodyworker, somatic sex coach and educator, cuddle workshop facilitator and activist. Through their videos, performances, photographs, and installations, they examine current conundrums of co-existence in a crippling capitalist system, and address themes of eroding intimacy and isolation in an increasingly sterile, technological world. They research how technological advances and commodity-based pleasures increase feelings of alienation, removing an individual’s sense of belonging. Their works present anticapitalist methods to reconnect and to explore sexualities, intimacies and feelings. bonajo’s experimental documentaries often feature communities living or working on the margins of society, either through illegal means or cultural exclusion, and the paradoxes inherent to ideas of comfort with a strong sense for community, equality and body-politics.
bonajo studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and completed residencies at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunst in Amsterdam (2009-10) and at ISCP in New York (2014).
In 2014 melanie bonajo started working on their monumental 'Night Soil Trilogy', consisting of 'Night Soil – Fake Paradise' (2014), 'Night Soil – Economy of Love' (2015) and 'Night Soil – Nocturnal Gardening' (2016). 'Night Soil' is a trilogy of documentaries presenting progressive (sometimes illegal) approaches through the portraits of ayahuasca consumers, sex worker activists or women farmers. In 2016, 'Progress vs Regress' was released, followed by 'Progress vs Sunsets' in 2017. This new Trilogy examines extinction or endangerment of vulnerable groups through techno-capital development, but also extinction in an abstract sense, extinction of feelings and thoughts. In 'TouchMETell' (2019) bonajo invites children (and adults) to think and talk about intimacy, their limits and body awareness. In 2022, 'When the body says Yes' was released and presented as the Dutch Entry at the Venice Biennial. In 2023 melanie bonajo finished the work 'Schule der Liebenden' commissioned by HORA Theatre Zurich, which also deals with body awareness and fragility.
melanie bonajo represented The Netherlands at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 with 'When the body says Yes'. bonajo has been working with a curatorial team consisting of Orlando Maaike Gouwenberg, Geir Haraldseth and Soraya Pol. The scenography for their immersive installation When the body says Yes is created in collaboration with Théo Demans.
bonajo studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and completed residencies at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunst in Amsterdam (2009-10) and at ISCP in New York (2014).
In 2014 melanie bonajo started working on their monumental 'Night Soil Trilogy', consisting of 'Night Soil – Fake Paradise' (2014), 'Night Soil – Economy of Love' (2015) and 'Night Soil – Nocturnal Gardening' (2016). 'Night Soil' is a trilogy of documentaries presenting progressive (sometimes illegal) approaches through the portraits of ayahuasca consumers, sex worker activists or women farmers. In 2016, 'Progress vs Regress' was released, followed by 'Progress vs Sunsets' in 2017. This new Trilogy examines extinction or endangerment of vulnerable groups through techno-capital development, but also extinction in an abstract sense, extinction of feelings and thoughts. In 'TouchMETell' (2019) bonajo invites children (and adults) to think and talk about intimacy, their limits and body awareness. In 2022, 'When the body says Yes' was released and presented as the Dutch Entry at the Venice Biennial. In 2023 melanie bonajo finished the work 'Schule der Liebenden' commissioned by HORA Theatre Zurich, which also deals with body awareness and fragility.
melanie bonajo represented The Netherlands at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 with 'When the body says Yes'. bonajo has been working with a curatorial team consisting of Orlando Maaike Gouwenberg, Geir Haraldseth and Soraya Pol. The scenography for their immersive installation When the body says Yes is created in collaboration with Théo Demans.
Oeuvres d'art
Articles
Médias
Points forts
Recommandations
Collections
Expositions
Position sur le marché
CV
Oeuvres de melanie bonajo
Médias
Maak kennis met de vooruitstrevende jonge kunstenaar Melanie Bonajo. Kom alles te weten over haar artistieke praktijk, de filosofie achter Night Soil en de video-installaties in Foam.
À propos
De Keuze van... Margitte Verwoerdt
Melanie Bonajo takes beautiful photos and videos and focuses on respect for the earth, humans and animals. She wants to inspire her audience to reflect on our relationship with nature. In her films, she raises ethical issues in a humorous and perspective-based manner.
Margitte Verwoerdt (kunsthistorica, zelfstandig adviseur en curator)
expositions
Dans la collection corporative:
DSM
ING Collection
ABN AMRO Art Collection
LUMC
Rabobank
AkzoNobel
21C Museum
Allen & Overy
Position sur le marché
Melanie Bonajo will represent The Netherlands at the 59th Venice Biennale, 2022. She will be working with a curatorial team consisting of Maaike Gouwenberg, Geir Haraldseth and Soraya Pol. The work will be presented at the Chiesetta della Misericordia in the Cannaregio neighbourhood in Venice.
Melanie Bonajo studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and completed residencies at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunst in Amsterdam (2009-10) and at ISCP in New York (2014). She had her first international solo exhibition in FOAM, The Netherlands (2016). The Frankfurter Kunstverein followed with a major solo exhibition in 2017: ‘Single Mother Songs from the End of Nature’ . In 2018, Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht presented her solo exhibition ‘The death of Melanie Bonajo: how to unmodernize yourself and become an elf in 12 steps’.
Melanie Bonajo’s work has been shown in international exhibitions throughout Europe, a.o; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2019/20); Pori Museum (2019); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2019); Guangzhou Triennial (2018/19); Kunsthalle Lingen (2019); Design Museum, Ghent (2019); Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle (2018/19); Museum Marta Herford (2018); Haus der Kunst, München (2018), Manifesta 12, Palermo (2018), Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (2018), Kunstsaele Berlin (2018); Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam (2018), Kunsthalle Basel (2016) and numerous festivals such as Lowlands, Pinkpop, International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Berlinale.
Melanie Bonajo was nominated for the Nam June Paik Award (2018), the Prix de Rome (2017) and shortlisted for the 57th Venice Biennale (2016). Her film Night Soil – Economy of Love, won an IFFR Tiger Award (2016). Her work is a.o. in institutional collections of Frac, Ile-de-France, Pori Museum, Kiasma – Finnish National Gallery and Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Museum of Modern art Arnhem and the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht.
Bonajo was nominated for the Nam June Paik Award (2018), Prix de Rome and for the Amsterdam Prize for Art. Melanie Bonajo's work is part of museum and private collections, including Bonnefanten Museum, Museum De Domeinen, Museum Schunck, Heerlen, Museum Arnhem. Central Museum and Museum Haarlem, Museum Twenthe, Pori Museum Finland, KIASMA Finland, FRAC Paris.
Melanie Bonajo studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and completed residencies at the Rijksakademie voor Beeldende Kunst in Amsterdam (2009-10) and at ISCP in New York (2014). She had her first international solo exhibition in FOAM, The Netherlands (2016). The Frankfurter Kunstverein followed with a major solo exhibition in 2017: ‘Single Mother Songs from the End of Nature’ . In 2018, Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht presented her solo exhibition ‘The death of Melanie Bonajo: how to unmodernize yourself and become an elf in 12 steps’.
Melanie Bonajo’s work has been shown in international exhibitions throughout Europe, a.o; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2019/20); Pori Museum (2019); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2019); Guangzhou Triennial (2018/19); Kunsthalle Lingen (2019); Design Museum, Ghent (2019); Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle (2018/19); Museum Marta Herford (2018); Haus der Kunst, München (2018), Manifesta 12, Palermo (2018), Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (2018), Kunstsaele Berlin (2018); Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam (2018), Kunsthalle Basel (2016) and numerous festivals such as Lowlands, Pinkpop, International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Berlinale.
Melanie Bonajo was nominated for the Nam June Paik Award (2018), the Prix de Rome (2017) and shortlisted for the 57th Venice Biennale (2016). Her film Night Soil – Economy of Love, won an IFFR Tiger Award (2016). Her work is a.o. in institutional collections of Frac, Ile-de-France, Pori Museum, Kiasma – Finnish National Gallery and Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Museum of Modern art Arnhem and the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht.
Bonajo was nominated for the Nam June Paik Award (2018), Prix de Rome and for the Amsterdam Prize for Art. Melanie Bonajo's work is part of museum and private collections, including Bonnefanten Museum, Museum De Domeinen, Museum Schunck, Heerlen, Museum Arnhem. Central Museum and Museum Haarlem, Museum Twenthe, Pori Museum Finland, KIASMA Finland, FRAC Paris.
CV
Born in 1978, Heerlen, NL
Lives and works in Amsterdam and New York.
Education
1998-2002 Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, NL
2000 School of Visual Arts, New York City, USA
2006-2007 Master course in Religious Science: Hermetica; Mysticism and Western Esotericism, University of Amsterdam, NL
Residencies
2014 International Studio Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York City, USA
2009-10 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Künstlerhaus Bethaniën, Berlin, DE
2011 New Zero Art Space, Yangon, MM
2009 FKK Resort, Ada Bojana, ME
2007 The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Warsaw, PL
Awards and nominations (selection)
2022 Melanie Bonajo zal Nederland in de Biennale van Venetië vertegenwoordigen
2018 Nomination Nam June Paik Award
2018 Amsterdamprijs voor de kunst (nomination)
Shortlisted for Prix de Rome 2017
Campaign Artist for Amsterdam Unseen 2017
2016 Shortlisted for the Dutch Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale
IFFR Tiger Award for Economy of Love (nomination)
2014 IFFR Tiger Award (nomination)
2013 MKaward (winner)
Vermeulen Brauckman Kunstprijs (nomination)
2011 C.o.C.a. (nomination)
2007 PUP Award for Modern Life of the Soul
Solo shows (selection)
2022 Biennale of Venice representation of the Netherlands
2018 The Death of Melanie Bonajo, Bonnefantenmuseum, NL
2017 Melanie Bonajo: Single Mother Songs from the End of Nature, Frankfurter Kunstverein, DE
2016 Next Level: Melanie Bonajo — Night Soil, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Does it matter who orbits?, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Stavanger, NO
Night Soil—Economy of Love, AKINCI, Amsterdam, NL
Nocturnal Gardening, Company Gallery, New York City, USA
2013 Matrix Botanica — Biosphere above Nations, Museum de Pavijoens, Almere, NL
So, Does this Hippie Crap really Work? PPOW Gallery, New York City, USA
2011 ****** 86 details of Paradise, Outline, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Physical Landscapes, Rijksakademie Open, Amsterdam, NL
2009 As Thrown Down From Heaven, PPOW Gallery, New York City, USA
The Grand Exploring Soul and the Point where History failed, Rijksakademie Open, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Mediummatic (with Kinga Kielczynska), Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
The Power of Negative Thinking (with Kinga Kielczynska), Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
2007 Are All Clichés True?, Modern Art Museum, Ljubljana, SL
Group shows (selection)
2018 Genius Loci (Night Soil—Fake Paradise), Parc Saint Léger, Pougues-les-Eaux, FR
Creatures Made to Measure—Animals and Contemporary Design (Progress vs Sunsets), Martha Herford Museum, DE
Bloot/Exposed, (Peeing on Presidents), Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen, NL
Freedom of Movement (Progress vs. Sunsets), Stedelijk Museum, Amserdam, NL
Guanghzou Triennial (Progress vs. Sunsets), Geungzhou Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
Creatures Made to Measure – Animals and Contemporary Design, Martha Herford Museum, Herford, DE
Manifesta 12, Palermo, IT
Anima Mundi, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
Haus der Sinnsuche, gutes leben durch Kultur, curated by Ellen Blumenstein, Kunstsaele, Berlin, DE
Object Love, de Domijnen, Sittard, NL
Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA), curated by Katerina Gregos, Riga 2018
Reis naar de toekomst, Tussendiepen, Drachten, NL
Blind Faith: Between the Visceral and the Cognitive in Contemporary Art, curated by Julienne Lorz, Daniel Milnes, Anna Schneider,
Haus der Kunst, München, DE
2017 Exhibition Prix de Rome 2017, Kunsthal, Rotterdam
Homeward Bound, Nicodim gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Once more, with feeling, curated by Martine van Kampen, KAF Expo, Almere stad, NL
Summer of Love, Schwarz Foundation, curated by Katerina Gregos, Lesbos, GR
Ben ik een dier? De Domijnen, Sittard, NL
CBK Zeeland, FAÇADE 2017: Face your freedom, Zeeland, NL
Screen Present Tense, HDLU, Zagreb
Wiener Festwochen - The Conundrum of Imagination, Curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung & Pauline Doutreluingne in collaboration with Leopold Museum Vienna, AU
Bienne Festival of Photography, Biel, CH
Planetary Garden, curated by Ashley Lumb & Laura Mclean, Manuka Arts Centre, AU
Artefact Expo: The Act of Magic, curated by Karen Verschooren & Ilse Huygens, STUK, Leuven, BE
Living in Dreams, curated by Els Fiers & Frank Koolen, De Bond Brugge, BE
2016 Give Me Yesterday, curated by Francesco Zanot, Fondazione Prada, IT
True Will, curated by Hilde Jorgensen, KNIPSU, Bergen, NO
Mattering City, curated by Jussi Koitele, SixtyEight Art Institute, Copenhagen, DK
Millennials, Museum Arnhem, NL
Culture Pop Marauders, IN EXTENSO at Mains d’Oeuvres, Saint-Ouen, FR
Do Boomerangs Always Come Back?, curated by Annemie Van Laethem & Erik Croux, Castle Oud-Rekem, BE
Kunstenfestival Watou, Poperinge, BE
Reiskoorts / Wanderlust, De Hallen Haarlem, NL
What We Have Overlooked, curated by Mirjam Westen, Museum Arnhem at Framer Framed, Amsterdam, NL
Eins, zwei, Wechselschritt, curated by Ellen de Bruijne, Art Cologne, DE
Hacking Habitat - Art of control, curated by Ine Gevers, Utrecht, NL
Close-Up: A New Generation of Film and Video Artists in the Netherlands, EYE, Amsterdam, NL
Future Queer, Ark Kültür, Istanbul, TR
2015 6th Fotofestival Mannheim-Ludwigshaven-Heidelberg, DE
Oét d’r Sjtub, Schunck, Heerlen, NL
Drzava u Krevetu // State Abed, Magacin, Belgrade, SRB
2014 WeberWoche, Stroom, The Hague, NL
Still/Life, Dutch Contemporary Photography, travelling exhibition:
FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Multimedia Arts Museum, Moscow, PL
Perm State Art Gallery and Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, RU
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, CN
When Elephants Come Marching In, De Appel Art Centre, Amsterdam, NL
The Rock Show, Genk, BE
The Personal is Political, State Abed, Split, HR
2013 Dissident Desires, District, Berlin, DE
Women Commentators, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL
Van God Los, Museum voor Psychiatrie, Haarlem, NL
Female Power, Museum of Modern Art, Arnhem, NL
Quicktime, Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, St. Petersburg, RU
Kaap, Stichting Storm, Utrecht, NL
Erogonous zone, ffffff, Berlin, DE
2012 The Future that Was (and Is), Smart Project Space, Amsterdam, NL
20111111111, LEAP Berlin, DE
Topsy Turvy, De Appel Arts Centre, Amsterdam, NL
2011 What’s Next, Skor, Tot Zover, Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, NL
The Second Act, de Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, NL
Diversion, Moving-Image Art Fair, New York City, USA
2010 QUICKSCAN NL – New Photography from the Netherlands, Dutch Cultural Centre, Shanghai, CN
Private Confessions, The Cello Factory, London, UK
Humananimal, Portsmouth Museum of Art, Portsmouth, US
Diversion, ArtLA Contemporary, Los Angeles, USA
2009 Too Much of Everything, Y3K, Melbourne, AU
Calvin Me, CBK Dordrecht, NL
Thank You for Hurting Me, I really Needed it, Gemeentelijke Aankopen, Stedelijk Museum,Amsterdam, NL
Rebelle, Art and Feminism 1969-2009, Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, Arnhem, NL
Tenderloveandcare, Galleri Box, Gothenborg, SE
2007 Are All Cliche's True, Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana, SL
Joie de Construction, Peepingtom Gallery, Korean Institute for the Arts, Paris, FR
2006 Budget 10.000 euro, W139, Amsterdam, NL
Portaal naar de hemel, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, NL
Everyday Is Not Like Everyday, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Screenings (selection)
2017 Progress vs. Regress, Night Soil - Economy of Love, Die Politik der Freundschaft, Kunstverein Leipzig, DL
Matrix Botanica, Gare du Noord, Amsterdam, NL
Night Soil - Nocturnal Gardening, Manimal, HAU Berlin, DL
Night Soil - Nocturnal Gardening, The Second Nature, Riga
Pee on Presidents (plus curating programme Was will das Weib? Das Weib will!), Cinema Erotica, EYE Film Museum, Amsterdam, NL
Night Soil - Fake Paradise, KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS, Brussels, BE
Night Soil - Fake Paradise, Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Kyiv, UA
Progress vs. Regress, Beat Film Festival, Moscow, RU
Night Soil - Economy of Love, Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival, Bucharest, RO
2016 Night Soil - Economy of Love, Perdu, Amsterdam, NL
Progress vs. Regress, KNIPSU, Bergen, NO
Night Soil - Economy of Love, beursschouwburg, Brussels, BE
Night Soil - Economy of Love, 20th Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, CH
Night Soil - Economy of Love, Tate Modern: 2016 cinema programme, London, UK
Fake Paradise, Museum Folkwang, Essen, DE
Night Soil - Economy of Love, International Film Festival Rotterdam
Progress vs. Regress, Kunsthalle Basel, CH
2013 Heart of No, Nederlands Film Festival, Utrecht
Private life of Animals, Nederlands Film Festival, Utrecht
Pee on Presidents, IDFA, Amsterdam
Matrix Botanica; Biosphere Above Nations, Witte de With, Rotterdam
2012 White Cosmos, Marrakesh Biennial
2011 Diversion, Moving Image, NYC
2010 Diversion, ArtLA, Contemporary, Los Angeles
2008 Hunting and Gathering, GLU, Amsterdam/Worm, Rotterdam
Furniture Bondage, Loops, ParkTV
2006 Mr. and Mrs. Mulder, Berlinale Filmfestival, Berlin
Taking Photographs of Things You Want to Forget, Lost&Found, Amsterdam
Publications (selection)
2015 Matrix Botanica—Non-Human Persons (Capricious Publishing)
2014 Pee on Presidents (Self Publish Be Happy)
2012 SPHERES (Philippe Karrer)
2009 Furniture Bondage (Kodoijpress)
Bush Compulsion, A Primitive Breakthrough in the Mind (Museumpaper)
I Have A Room With Everything (Capricious Publishing)
2007 Modern Life Of The Soul (Artist Book)
Performance (selection)
2017 Wiener Festwochen - The Conundrum of Imagination
Pilgrimage of the Animals, 31 March 2017, 10 pm, Ten days six nights, Tate Modern, London, UK
2016 OthersMother Song, ZaZaZoZo together with Splitter Splatter and Pussy Tutorials, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Progress vs Regress, Kunsthalle Basel, CH
2015 Liste Art Fair Performance Project Programma, curated by Eva Birkenstock, Basel, CH
KAMP KAYA, KUB Arena, Kunsthaus Bregenz, AT
Incubate, Tilburg, NL
2014 ZaZaZoZo, QQC, Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
PS1/MoMA, New York City, US
2013 Release of Inua, debut album of ZaZaZoZo (Tsunami Addiction)
What is your Jazzzzz, Stedelijk Museum, NL
Into The Great Wide Open, Vlieland, NL
Fying for Beginners, Kaap, Utrecht, NL
2009 Demons, Devils, Monsters and Other Intermediate Beings (with Joseph Marzolla), Stedelijk Museum BA, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Removing Influence of Places and Objects (with Kinga Kielczynska), Worm, Rotterdam, NL
Heilig Vuur, Removing Influences of Places and Objects (with Kinga Kielczynska), Stedelijk Museum, NL
Lectures/teaching (selection)
2016 Isa Genzken Through the Eyes of Others: artist talk in response to Iza Genzken’s exhibition ‘Mach dich hübsch!’
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL
2015 School of Visual Arts, New York City, USA
Alfred University, Rochester, USA
Östersund Akademie, Jämtpland/Härjedalen, SE
Cooper Union, New York City, USA
Sandberg Institute, Cure Master, Amsterdam, NL
Banff Art Centre, Banff, CA
2014 Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, NL
2013 Anarchy (project by Nicoline van Harskamp), Smart Project Space, Amsterdam, NL
2011 (Off)hrs Honolulu, USA
Beamclub Amsterdam, NL
l’ECAL, Lausanne, CH
2010 School of Visual Arts, The Hague, NL
2008 Aperture Foundation, NYC, USA
Parsons School of Design, NYC, USA
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL
Press/interviews (selection)
VICE, Waarom Melanie Bonajo graag blote vrouwen in de natuur wilde fotograferen, Noor Spanjer, december 2019: https://www.vice.com/nl/article/qjdd3b/melanie-bonajo-blote-vrouwen-natuur-fotoserie
NRC Handelsblad, De manipulatie van mens tot object, Hans den Hartog Jager over Blind Faith (Haus der Kunst, München), 28 maart 2018
DeVolkskrant, Mag je een tentoonstelling met een orgasme vergelijken? Nou ja, als het mag, dan hier, bij Melanie Bonajo (*****), Anna van Leeuwen on The Death of Melanie Bonajo, solo show in Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht, 29 april 2018
NRC Handelsblad: Object Love zet objecten op een voetstuk, Sandra Smets on ’Object Love’, 16 May 2018
Beeldenmagazine #2: Object Love, jaargang 21, nr. 82
De Gooi en Eemlander: Speelse en kritische kunst, Paola van de Velde on ‘Object Love’, 27 June 2018
H-Art: Het drukkende bezit, on ‘Object Love’, 21 June 2018
Public Seminar, 2017, interview by Bart van der Heide, Goethe Instituut, organised by Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam, NL
Berlin Art Link: http://www.berlinartlink.com/2017/10/03/play-human-and-non-human-hybrids-an-interview-with-melanie-bonajo/
BOMB - Artists in Conversation: http://bombmagazine.org/article/8189628/ieva-misevi-i-t
Art Magazine: https://artmattermagazine.com/melanie-bonajo-frankfurter-kunstverein/
Metropolis M: http://metropolism.com/reviews/melanie-bonajo/
Nisimazine: https://vimeo.com/118306379
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/15/melanie-bonajo_n_5811496.html=
Foam Magazine ‘Construct’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6WJSk4ZMRw
BOMB—Artists in Conversation: http://bombmagazine.org/article/1000294/kim-hiorth-y
Dazed Digital: http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/21087/1/anti-selfies-and-bondage-furniture
Art Forum: http://artforum.com/words/id=48546
‘One Question, Three Rooms, 44 Possible Answers’ at PPOW Gallery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epw2cPaU5pY
MK-Award: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hTjZR0F3TI
i-D (Vice) Magazine: https://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/met-intimiteit-kunnen-we-de-wereld-redden
Magazines/reviews (selection)
Famous#8, Livraison#1, Capricious#1, Glumagazine#1, Nuke#2, Yang (yangtijdschrift.be), Janus,Vice, Kutt, Zoo, Bonn, SVA-magazine, Verenigd Sandbergen, Frame Forecast Magazine, Free-Eye, Eye-magazine, Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad, Limburgsdagblad, Foam magazine, Delete, Items, NO-Friends, ping-magazine, Queensday book, Presence, Amsterdam Weekly, Neue Zurich Zeitung, Mollusk, Art&Auction,Art & Culture, Curo, Artpress, Blend,Cederteg n#1,GLU #3,livraison 3#, Famous NYC, Gupmagazine, Dazed en Confused, Vorn magazine, That Damm The Duo Issue, Tubelight, NRC next, Les Beaux Arts magazine, Liberation, Art Lovers NYC, WAD magazine, Connaissances des Arts, French Vogue, Artforum Online, Liberation, Ful, '100', Future Images, FOAM magazine, White Wall, Theme, Livraison#3, Future Images, Kunstbeeld, Rebelle, Frieze magazine Issue #135, 100 New Artists, by Francesca Gavin 2011, Openlab magazine, A4 magazine, G.A.G, Missy Magazine.
Curatorial/editorial
2014 Night Soil Performance Nights, Baby’s All Right, New York City, USA
The Feeling Internet, Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
Mister Motley Magazine
Shared Basement, Kunstenaarsinitiatief Beyonce, Amsterdam, NL
Qu’est Ce Que C’est, Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
Writing (selection)
FOAM magazine, Metropolis M, Mister Motley, Aperture Magazine, ARTFORUM
Web
melaniebonajo com
zazazozo.com
matrixbotanica.tumblr.com
Lives and works in Amsterdam and New York.
Education
1998-2002 Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, NL
2000 School of Visual Arts, New York City, USA
2006-2007 Master course in Religious Science: Hermetica; Mysticism and Western Esotericism, University of Amsterdam, NL
Residencies
2014 International Studio Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York City, USA
2009-10 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Künstlerhaus Bethaniën, Berlin, DE
2011 New Zero Art Space, Yangon, MM
2009 FKK Resort, Ada Bojana, ME
2007 The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Warsaw, PL
Awards and nominations (selection)
2022 Melanie Bonajo zal Nederland in de Biennale van Venetië vertegenwoordigen
2018 Nomination Nam June Paik Award
2018 Amsterdamprijs voor de kunst (nomination)
Shortlisted for Prix de Rome 2017
Campaign Artist for Amsterdam Unseen 2017
2016 Shortlisted for the Dutch Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale
IFFR Tiger Award for Economy of Love (nomination)
2014 IFFR Tiger Award (nomination)
2013 MKaward (winner)
Vermeulen Brauckman Kunstprijs (nomination)
2011 C.o.C.a. (nomination)
2007 PUP Award for Modern Life of the Soul
Solo shows (selection)
2022 Biennale of Venice representation of the Netherlands
2018 The Death of Melanie Bonajo, Bonnefantenmuseum, NL
2017 Melanie Bonajo: Single Mother Songs from the End of Nature, Frankfurter Kunstverein, DE
2016 Next Level: Melanie Bonajo — Night Soil, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Does it matter who orbits?, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Stavanger, NO
Night Soil—Economy of Love, AKINCI, Amsterdam, NL
Nocturnal Gardening, Company Gallery, New York City, USA
2013 Matrix Botanica — Biosphere above Nations, Museum de Pavijoens, Almere, NL
So, Does this Hippie Crap really Work? PPOW Gallery, New York City, USA
2011 ****** 86 details of Paradise, Outline, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Physical Landscapes, Rijksakademie Open, Amsterdam, NL
2009 As Thrown Down From Heaven, PPOW Gallery, New York City, USA
The Grand Exploring Soul and the Point where History failed, Rijksakademie Open, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Mediummatic (with Kinga Kielczynska), Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
The Power of Negative Thinking (with Kinga Kielczynska), Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
2007 Are All Clichés True?, Modern Art Museum, Ljubljana, SL
Group shows (selection)
2018 Genius Loci (Night Soil—Fake Paradise), Parc Saint Léger, Pougues-les-Eaux, FR
Creatures Made to Measure—Animals and Contemporary Design (Progress vs Sunsets), Martha Herford Museum, DE
Bloot/Exposed, (Peeing on Presidents), Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen, NL
Freedom of Movement (Progress vs. Sunsets), Stedelijk Museum, Amserdam, NL
Guanghzou Triennial (Progress vs. Sunsets), Geungzhou Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
Creatures Made to Measure – Animals and Contemporary Design, Martha Herford Museum, Herford, DE
Manifesta 12, Palermo, IT
Anima Mundi, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
Haus der Sinnsuche, gutes leben durch Kultur, curated by Ellen Blumenstein, Kunstsaele, Berlin, DE
Object Love, de Domijnen, Sittard, NL
Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art (RIBOCA), curated by Katerina Gregos, Riga 2018
Reis naar de toekomst, Tussendiepen, Drachten, NL
Blind Faith: Between the Visceral and the Cognitive in Contemporary Art, curated by Julienne Lorz, Daniel Milnes, Anna Schneider,
Haus der Kunst, München, DE
2017 Exhibition Prix de Rome 2017, Kunsthal, Rotterdam
Homeward Bound, Nicodim gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Once more, with feeling, curated by Martine van Kampen, KAF Expo, Almere stad, NL
Summer of Love, Schwarz Foundation, curated by Katerina Gregos, Lesbos, GR
Ben ik een dier? De Domijnen, Sittard, NL
CBK Zeeland, FAÇADE 2017: Face your freedom, Zeeland, NL
Screen Present Tense, HDLU, Zagreb
Wiener Festwochen - The Conundrum of Imagination, Curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung & Pauline Doutreluingne in collaboration with Leopold Museum Vienna, AU
Bienne Festival of Photography, Biel, CH
Planetary Garden, curated by Ashley Lumb & Laura Mclean, Manuka Arts Centre, AU
Artefact Expo: The Act of Magic, curated by Karen Verschooren & Ilse Huygens, STUK, Leuven, BE
Living in Dreams, curated by Els Fiers & Frank Koolen, De Bond Brugge, BE
2016 Give Me Yesterday, curated by Francesco Zanot, Fondazione Prada, IT
True Will, curated by Hilde Jorgensen, KNIPSU, Bergen, NO
Mattering City, curated by Jussi Koitele, SixtyEight Art Institute, Copenhagen, DK
Millennials, Museum Arnhem, NL
Culture Pop Marauders, IN EXTENSO at Mains d’Oeuvres, Saint-Ouen, FR
Do Boomerangs Always Come Back?, curated by Annemie Van Laethem & Erik Croux, Castle Oud-Rekem, BE
Kunstenfestival Watou, Poperinge, BE
Reiskoorts / Wanderlust, De Hallen Haarlem, NL
What We Have Overlooked, curated by Mirjam Westen, Museum Arnhem at Framer Framed, Amsterdam, NL
Eins, zwei, Wechselschritt, curated by Ellen de Bruijne, Art Cologne, DE
Hacking Habitat - Art of control, curated by Ine Gevers, Utrecht, NL
Close-Up: A New Generation of Film and Video Artists in the Netherlands, EYE, Amsterdam, NL
Future Queer, Ark Kültür, Istanbul, TR
2015 6th Fotofestival Mannheim-Ludwigshaven-Heidelberg, DE
Oét d’r Sjtub, Schunck, Heerlen, NL
Drzava u Krevetu // State Abed, Magacin, Belgrade, SRB
2014 WeberWoche, Stroom, The Hague, NL
Still/Life, Dutch Contemporary Photography, travelling exhibition:
FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Multimedia Arts Museum, Moscow, PL
Perm State Art Gallery and Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, RU
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, CN
When Elephants Come Marching In, De Appel Art Centre, Amsterdam, NL
The Rock Show, Genk, BE
The Personal is Political, State Abed, Split, HR
2013 Dissident Desires, District, Berlin, DE
Women Commentators, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL
Van God Los, Museum voor Psychiatrie, Haarlem, NL
Female Power, Museum of Modern Art, Arnhem, NL
Quicktime, Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, St. Petersburg, RU
Kaap, Stichting Storm, Utrecht, NL
Erogonous zone, ffffff, Berlin, DE
2012 The Future that Was (and Is), Smart Project Space, Amsterdam, NL
20111111111, LEAP Berlin, DE
Topsy Turvy, De Appel Arts Centre, Amsterdam, NL
2011 What’s Next, Skor, Tot Zover, Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, NL
The Second Act, de Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, NL
Diversion, Moving-Image Art Fair, New York City, USA
2010 QUICKSCAN NL – New Photography from the Netherlands, Dutch Cultural Centre, Shanghai, CN
Private Confessions, The Cello Factory, London, UK
Humananimal, Portsmouth Museum of Art, Portsmouth, US
Diversion, ArtLA Contemporary, Los Angeles, USA
2009 Too Much of Everything, Y3K, Melbourne, AU
Calvin Me, CBK Dordrecht, NL
Thank You for Hurting Me, I really Needed it, Gemeentelijke Aankopen, Stedelijk Museum,Amsterdam, NL
Rebelle, Art and Feminism 1969-2009, Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, Arnhem, NL
Tenderloveandcare, Galleri Box, Gothenborg, SE
2007 Are All Cliche's True, Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana, SL
Joie de Construction, Peepingtom Gallery, Korean Institute for the Arts, Paris, FR
2006 Budget 10.000 euro, W139, Amsterdam, NL
Portaal naar de hemel, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, NL
Everyday Is Not Like Everyday, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Screenings (selection)
2017 Progress vs. Regress, Night Soil - Economy of Love, Die Politik der Freundschaft, Kunstverein Leipzig, DL
Matrix Botanica, Gare du Noord, Amsterdam, NL
Night Soil - Nocturnal Gardening, Manimal, HAU Berlin, DL
Night Soil - Nocturnal Gardening, The Second Nature, Riga
Pee on Presidents (plus curating programme Was will das Weib? Das Weib will!), Cinema Erotica, EYE Film Museum, Amsterdam, NL
Night Soil - Fake Paradise, KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS, Brussels, BE
Night Soil - Fake Paradise, Kyiv International Short Film Festival, Kyiv, UA
Progress vs. Regress, Beat Film Festival, Moscow, RU
Night Soil - Economy of Love, Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival, Bucharest, RO
2016 Night Soil - Economy of Love, Perdu, Amsterdam, NL
Progress vs. Regress, KNIPSU, Bergen, NO
Night Soil - Economy of Love, beursschouwburg, Brussels, BE
Night Soil - Economy of Love, 20th Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, CH
Night Soil - Economy of Love, Tate Modern: 2016 cinema programme, London, UK
Fake Paradise, Museum Folkwang, Essen, DE
Night Soil - Economy of Love, International Film Festival Rotterdam
Progress vs. Regress, Kunsthalle Basel, CH
2013 Heart of No, Nederlands Film Festival, Utrecht
Private life of Animals, Nederlands Film Festival, Utrecht
Pee on Presidents, IDFA, Amsterdam
Matrix Botanica; Biosphere Above Nations, Witte de With, Rotterdam
2012 White Cosmos, Marrakesh Biennial
2011 Diversion, Moving Image, NYC
2010 Diversion, ArtLA, Contemporary, Los Angeles
2008 Hunting and Gathering, GLU, Amsterdam/Worm, Rotterdam
Furniture Bondage, Loops, ParkTV
2006 Mr. and Mrs. Mulder, Berlinale Filmfestival, Berlin
Taking Photographs of Things You Want to Forget, Lost&Found, Amsterdam
Publications (selection)
2015 Matrix Botanica—Non-Human Persons (Capricious Publishing)
2014 Pee on Presidents (Self Publish Be Happy)
2012 SPHERES (Philippe Karrer)
2009 Furniture Bondage (Kodoijpress)
Bush Compulsion, A Primitive Breakthrough in the Mind (Museumpaper)
I Have A Room With Everything (Capricious Publishing)
2007 Modern Life Of The Soul (Artist Book)
Performance (selection)
2017 Wiener Festwochen - The Conundrum of Imagination
Pilgrimage of the Animals, 31 March 2017, 10 pm, Ten days six nights, Tate Modern, London, UK
2016 OthersMother Song, ZaZaZoZo together with Splitter Splatter and Pussy Tutorials, FOAM, Amsterdam, NL
Progress vs Regress, Kunsthalle Basel, CH
2015 Liste Art Fair Performance Project Programma, curated by Eva Birkenstock, Basel, CH
KAMP KAYA, KUB Arena, Kunsthaus Bregenz, AT
Incubate, Tilburg, NL
2014 ZaZaZoZo, QQC, Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
PS1/MoMA, New York City, US
2013 Release of Inua, debut album of ZaZaZoZo (Tsunami Addiction)
What is your Jazzzzz, Stedelijk Museum, NL
Into The Great Wide Open, Vlieland, NL
Fying for Beginners, Kaap, Utrecht, NL
2009 Demons, Devils, Monsters and Other Intermediate Beings (with Joseph Marzolla), Stedelijk Museum BA, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Removing Influence of Places and Objects (with Kinga Kielczynska), Worm, Rotterdam, NL
Heilig Vuur, Removing Influences of Places and Objects (with Kinga Kielczynska), Stedelijk Museum, NL
Lectures/teaching (selection)
2016 Isa Genzken Through the Eyes of Others: artist talk in response to Iza Genzken’s exhibition ‘Mach dich hübsch!’
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NL
2015 School of Visual Arts, New York City, USA
Alfred University, Rochester, USA
Östersund Akademie, Jämtpland/Härjedalen, SE
Cooper Union, New York City, USA
Sandberg Institute, Cure Master, Amsterdam, NL
Banff Art Centre, Banff, CA
2014 Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, NL
2013 Anarchy (project by Nicoline van Harskamp), Smart Project Space, Amsterdam, NL
2011 (Off)hrs Honolulu, USA
Beamclub Amsterdam, NL
l’ECAL, Lausanne, CH
2010 School of Visual Arts, The Hague, NL
2008 Aperture Foundation, NYC, USA
Parsons School of Design, NYC, USA
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL
Press/interviews (selection)
VICE, Waarom Melanie Bonajo graag blote vrouwen in de natuur wilde fotograferen, Noor Spanjer, december 2019: https://www.vice.com/nl/article/qjdd3b/melanie-bonajo-blote-vrouwen-natuur-fotoserie
NRC Handelsblad, De manipulatie van mens tot object, Hans den Hartog Jager over Blind Faith (Haus der Kunst, München), 28 maart 2018
DeVolkskrant, Mag je een tentoonstelling met een orgasme vergelijken? Nou ja, als het mag, dan hier, bij Melanie Bonajo (*****), Anna van Leeuwen on The Death of Melanie Bonajo, solo show in Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht, 29 april 2018
NRC Handelsblad: Object Love zet objecten op een voetstuk, Sandra Smets on ’Object Love’, 16 May 2018
Beeldenmagazine #2: Object Love, jaargang 21, nr. 82
De Gooi en Eemlander: Speelse en kritische kunst, Paola van de Velde on ‘Object Love’, 27 June 2018
H-Art: Het drukkende bezit, on ‘Object Love’, 21 June 2018
Public Seminar, 2017, interview by Bart van der Heide, Goethe Instituut, organised by Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam, NL
Berlin Art Link: http://www.berlinartlink.com/2017/10/03/play-human-and-non-human-hybrids-an-interview-with-melanie-bonajo/
BOMB - Artists in Conversation: http://bombmagazine.org/article/8189628/ieva-misevi-i-t
Art Magazine: https://artmattermagazine.com/melanie-bonajo-frankfurter-kunstverein/
Metropolis M: http://metropolism.com/reviews/melanie-bonajo/
Nisimazine: https://vimeo.com/118306379
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/15/melanie-bonajo_n_5811496.html=
Foam Magazine ‘Construct’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6WJSk4ZMRw
BOMB—Artists in Conversation: http://bombmagazine.org/article/1000294/kim-hiorth-y
Dazed Digital: http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/21087/1/anti-selfies-and-bondage-furniture
Art Forum: http://artforum.com/words/id=48546
‘One Question, Three Rooms, 44 Possible Answers’ at PPOW Gallery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epw2cPaU5pY
MK-Award: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hTjZR0F3TI
i-D (Vice) Magazine: https://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/met-intimiteit-kunnen-we-de-wereld-redden
Magazines/reviews (selection)
Famous#8, Livraison#1, Capricious#1, Glumagazine#1, Nuke#2, Yang (yangtijdschrift.be), Janus,Vice, Kutt, Zoo, Bonn, SVA-magazine, Verenigd Sandbergen, Frame Forecast Magazine, Free-Eye, Eye-magazine, Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad, Limburgsdagblad, Foam magazine, Delete, Items, NO-Friends, ping-magazine, Queensday book, Presence, Amsterdam Weekly, Neue Zurich Zeitung, Mollusk, Art&Auction,Art & Culture, Curo, Artpress, Blend,Cederteg n#1,GLU #3,livraison 3#, Famous NYC, Gupmagazine, Dazed en Confused, Vorn magazine, That Damm The Duo Issue, Tubelight, NRC next, Les Beaux Arts magazine, Liberation, Art Lovers NYC, WAD magazine, Connaissances des Arts, French Vogue, Artforum Online, Liberation, Ful, '100', Future Images, FOAM magazine, White Wall, Theme, Livraison#3, Future Images, Kunstbeeld, Rebelle, Frieze magazine Issue #135, 100 New Artists, by Francesca Gavin 2011, Openlab magazine, A4 magazine, G.A.G, Missy Magazine.
Curatorial/editorial
2014 Night Soil Performance Nights, Baby’s All Right, New York City, USA
The Feeling Internet, Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
Mister Motley Magazine
Shared Basement, Kunstenaarsinitiatief Beyonce, Amsterdam, NL
Qu’est Ce Que C’est, Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
Writing (selection)
FOAM magazine, Metropolis M, Mister Motley, Aperture Magazine, ARTFORUM
Web
melaniebonajo com
zazazozo.com
matrixbotanica.tumblr.com
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