Ushengewe (*1995) is a Geneva-based artist who works in the fields of documentary and experimental film, writing, and performance. Their work focuses on reappropriating narratives and addressing critical issues such as surveillance, structural racism, and neocolonialism. At the heart of their practice is the search for new forms of expression that break away from conventional storytelling, offering pathways to challenge and resist oppression. Ushengewe completed a Bachelor’s degree in Film in 2020 and a Master’s in Fine Arts in 2023 at HEAD (Haute école d’art et de design, Geneva).

Jury Statement
Gemma Ushengewe’s inquiries are complex and timely, highly political, but not subject to fleeting trends. Using time-based media such as film, video, and performance, Ushengewe addresses the issue of «Othering» – the process of making people «other» – as well as structural racism based on personal experiences. This is done without slipping into autobiographical narration. Ushengewe’s spatial installations offer viewers personal access and strong connectivity. How can a person become invisible amid the tension between surveillance and transparency? Who controls what or who becomes visible? Ushengewe deliberately rejects dominant codes, contrasting transparency, symbolized through plexiglass, with the opacity of shadows, where silhouettes and projections interact with the audience’s physical presence.

The jury is struck by the urgency with which Gemma Ushengewe addresses personal experiences. Rather than getting lost in theoretical abstractions, Ushengewe uses these concepts as creative tools. The jury commends their bold exploration of invisibility in a world where visibility is often equated with success. This approach allows Ushengewe’s work to defy conventional expectations within the art field. The jury encourages Ushengewe to continue pursuing their experimental and consistent practice.

Jury 2024

• Kathrin Bentele, Director of the Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf (Guest Expert)
• Andrea Wolfensberger, Artist, CH (Guest Expert)
• Elisabeth Grossmann (Art Historian, Member of the Board of Trustees)
• Sibylle Loyrette (Art Law Attorney, Member of the Board of Trustees)
• Gabrielle Schaad (Art Historian, Member of the Board of Trustees, Jury President)