Carol Bove curates 'La Genevoise' at MAH Geneva with archaeological and contemporary works

Carol Bove, the Geneva-born artist known for her sculptures, takes on her first curatorial role with 'La Genevoise' at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (MAH) in Geneva, running from January 31 to June 22, 2025. The exhibition is part of the museum's XL Exhibition program, which biannually invites contemporary artists to curate shows engaging with the permanent collection. Bove's show spans 15,000 years of Geneva's history, from early archaeological finds to 21st-century art. A key feature is a metal rail-like structure on the floor that acts as a chronological device, displaying full-scale facsimiles of objects that visitors can touch, challenging traditional museum etiquette. Samuel Gross, curator at MAH, explains that this sensory experience redefines visitor interaction. Each room presents a different perspective on Geneva's artistic past, with empty spaces where historical records are missing. Original benches by French playwright Marc Camoletti are repainted to blend into the spaces. QR codes provide insights from researchers, archaeologists, and anthropologists, with a focus on women's history. The exhibition includes a wooden sculpture from 80 BCE, paintings by Ferdinand Hodler, furniture by Joseph Hoffmann, and concludes with a crushed, brightly painted car sculpture by Sylvie Fleury, symbolizing contemporaneity.