A Public Affair
Challenging our understanding of space, power, and autonomy, A Public Affair invites visitors to reflect on the ever-shifting boundaries between the private and the public. It considers how these realms continuously shape, control, and redefine each other. Across three floors of Cloud Seven’s gallery, Spaces, Systems, and Sovereignty offer three distinct perspectives on how private and public life intersect, overlap, and shape our daily experiences.
Curated by Bayo Hassan Bello.
Artists
Helena Almeida, Reza Aramesh, Éric Aupol, Younes Baba-Ali, Alvin Baltrop, Léa Belooussovitch, Aline Bouvy, David Brognon & Stéphanie Rollin, Laurie Charles, Aleskandra Chaushova, James Casebere, David Claerbout, Margaret Courtney-Clarke, Tacita Dean, Dries Depoorter, Romeo Gómez López, Jan Henderikse, Hideyuki Ishibashi, Kapwani Kiwanga, Maria Kley, Robert Mapplethorpe, Edgar Martins, Michel Mazzoni, Jacqueline Mesmaeker, Michael Patterson-Carver, Yoel Pytowski, Carmen Reátegui, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hank Willis Thomas, Barthélémy Toguo, Danh Vō, Nico Williams, Ulla-Stina Wikander, Wiktoria Wojciechowska, Yunyao Zhang.
Ground Floor
Subversions explores how desire and proximity is imbued with poignant, politically charged and often dramatic consequences. The inquiries on private and public life which began with A Private Affair last May and continues with A Public Affair are deepened on this floor. This closing act opens up a soft and intimate view on subversion through the photographic image.
First Floor
Spaces challenges us to think about what makes a space private or public. Are spaces like a church, an artist’s studio, or a cinema truly private? Or are they always shaped by public rules, surveillance, and expectations? The artworks prompt questions about how our homes, workplaces, and even public spaces like parks and streets are constantly negotiated. Can a place be both private and public at the same time? How do historical, cultural, or political contexts change our understanding of a space?
Second Floor
Systems examines how larger structures of power—such as governments, economies, and social norms—control and organize our lives. What are the hidden rules that shape our behaviors and interactions? The artworks explore how people either fit into or resist these systems and how historical and global connections play a role in our present lives. Can we find new ways to organize ourselves that are fairer and more just? What happens when individuals or communities push back against these structures?
Third Floor
Sovereignty focuses on the idea of control and autonomy—both on a personal level and in a broader sense. What does it mean to have control over our own choices and identities? How do people claim or lose their right to self-determination? The artworks explore these questions, offering different points of view on how we navigate the tension between authority and personal
freedom.
Stay in the loop.
Events and exhibitions straight to your inbox
By clicking send, you’ll receive occasional emails from Cloud Seven. You always have the choice to unsubscribe
