Monster Chetwynd at Kunsthaus Zürich

The Kunsthaus Zürich hosts a comprehensive exhibition, The Trompe l’oeil Cleavage, by artist Monster Chetwynd from 16 May to 31 August 2025. Covering 25 years of her work, it includes existing pieces, new projects, and a display inspired by Rome’s Via Appia, featuring sculptures, performance documentation, and paintings from her Bat Opera series, which combine art-historical and zoological elements. Chetwynd (b. 1973, UK), based in Zurich since 2020, integrates performance, sculpture, and painting, drawing on influences from medieval plays, carnival theatre, and pop culture to create layered works.

The exhibition presents all three episodes of Chetwynd’s Hermitos Children film series for the first time, blending experimental filmmaking with themes of collaboration and humanity, focusing on a telepathic detective solving unusual cases. Her bricolage method, influenced by Claude Lévi-Strauss, recontextualizes cultural elements from sources like Giotto and heavy metal, forming a multifaceted aesthetic. Chetwynd’s performances use improvisation, referencing travelling theatre and exploring themes such as gender and identity.

Since adopting the name ‘Monster’ in 2018, Chetwynd has challenged conventional notions of identity. The exhibition, supported by Swiss Re, is accompanied by a catalogue and offers guided tours. Additionally, Chetwynd will create a ‘folly’ sculpture for the Chipperfield building’s Art Garden, to be unveiled in late summer, backed by several foundations. This exhibition highlights Chetwynd’s contributions to contemporary art and her engagement with Zurich’s art community.

Monster Chetwynd: The Trompe l'oeil Cleavage. Solo exhibition at Kunsthaus Zürich. Zürich (Switzerland), May 15, 2025.