Michel Houellebecq Debuts as Visual Artist at Manifesta 11

French writer Michel Houellebecq, known for provocative novels like 'The Elementary Particles' and 'Submission', has made his debut as a visual artist at Manifesta 11 in Zurich. Curator Christian Jankowski invited Houellebecq to create two interventions as part of the biennial's joint ventures, pairing artists with local professionals. For his first work, Houellebecq underwent a full health screening at the Klinik Hirslanden, collaborating with Dr. Henry Perschak of the Medical Assessment Center. The resulting installation displays X-rays and MRIs of his heart, blood flow, hands, and head—organs crucial to his writing. Visitors can take away prints of his ECG and blood test results, along with the medical bills. The work explores the body as a snapshot of the present, echoing a line from 'Submission': 'The past is always beautiful, the future too. What hurts is only the present, which we carry like an abscess of suffering between two infinities of quiet happiness.' The installation is shown at both the clinic and Helmhaus in the city center, alongside other Manifesta projects.