Théo Mercier and Steven Michel Win Silver Lion at Venice Dance Biennale

Théo Mercier (born 1984, Paris) and Steven Michel (born 1986, France) have been awarded the Silver Lion at the 2019 Venice Dance Biennale. The duo's collaborative performance "Affordable Solution for Better Living" explores the intersection of body, object, and space, critiquing contemporary consumer culture through an Ikea-inspired lens. Mercier, primarily a visual artist known for his dramaturgical exhibitions, and Michel, a dancer and choreographer, first met in 2016 at a show in Marseille. Their work treats the body as a living sculpture, with sound, objects, and movement forming a non-hierarchical system. The performance is structured in two parts: the first features Michel as a futuristic consumer guided by an Ikea manual, while the second sees objects take over the space, creating an artificial natural soundscape. The piece reflects on the Anthropocene, masculinity, and the blurring of reality and fiction. This marks the first time the Silver Lion has been awarded to a duo. The artists plan to continue collaborating on a new work titled "Big Sister."