San Francisco
The Soothsayings of Iris

The Soothsayings of Iris

Maria Guta and Lauren Huret reveal their inspirations, references and characters behind The Soothsayings of Iris while sharing some of the milestones along their adventurous filmmaking journey.

The Soothsayings of Iris [Recording]

For the open call Beyond 2020: A (Post-) Pandemic Practice, Maria Guta and Lauren Huret made the short movie The Soothsayings of Iris, their first ever collaborative artwork.

Based on the “73 Questions” Vogue format and examining the “viral” type formats by highlighting their problematic aspects and their instant worldwide broadcasting – this prophetic satire is an interview with a fictional character, a mash-up of several intriguing public figures that populate our networks. Also inspired by their adoptive Swiss environment and the US West Coast, the artists are fascinated by the spread of specific ideologies like new-age mysticism, tech gurus and the phenomenon of over-hyped celebrities. The piece is a commentary on how we deal with digital identity and the influence of media representation on the collective psyche.

Program

  • 10:00am – Introduction by Mary Ellyn Johnson
  • 10:05am – Presentation of The Soothsayings of Iris by Maria Guta and Lauren Huret
  • 10:40am – Q&A
  • 11:00am – Conclusion
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Event start time

  • Switzerland + San Francisco

    10:00AM

  • California

    10:00AM

  • USA

    12:00PM

  • Boston and New York

    1:00PM

  • Brazil

    3:00PM

  • China

    2:00AM

  • India

    11:30PM

  • Switzerland

    7:00PM

  • Boston

    1:00PM

  • San Francisco

    10:00AM

Host

Mary Ellyn Johnson, swissnex SFPhotograph: Myleen Hollero
Mary Ellyn Johnson

Head of Exhibitions at swissnex San Francisco, Mary Ellyn previously worked at the San Francisco Art Institute as a curator and the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis as a research librarian. She has masters degrees in both Art History (Richmond University, London) and Cultural Studies (University of London, Birkbeck College, London Consortium). Her main interests are contemporary art at the nexus of research and education, Film and all things Scandinavian.

Bios

  •

    Bio

    Lauren Huret

    Visual Artist

    Lauren Huret’s work is mainly composed of videos, installations, performances and collages, is based on an on-going examination of the influence of media and tech culture on belief systems. She has exhibited at Kunsthaus Langenthal, Hard Hat Gallery in Geneva, La Panacée in Montpellier, Copenhagen Contemporary, at Centre d’art contemporain de Genève, at Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris, at the Haus der Elektronischen Kunste in Basel, at Jeu de Paume in Paris.

  •

    Bio

    Maria Guta

    Artist

    Maria’s work mainly looks into mechanisms of self-representation which she reenacts by placing herself both behind and in front of the camera. Perpetually constructing and curating alternate cyber-identities, she makes use of immersive digital tools and social media in her work. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from The National University of Arts in Bucharest and a MA in Art Direction from École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL).

  • The Soothsayings of Iris

    The Soothsayings of Iris, Maria Guta and Lauren Huret, video, 21 minutes, 2020

Support

This event is supported by Pro Helvetia.

  • The Soothsayings of Iris

    The Soothsayings of Iris

    Maria Guta and Lauren Huret reveal their inspirations, references and characters behind The Soothsayings of Iris while sharing some of the milestones along their adventurous filmmaking journey.