Sweet Crip: About Sweet Dreams, Time, Food And Beautiful Nightmares

Curated by Lari Medawar, "Sweet Crip" at the Krone/Couronne art space is more than just a display of artworks. It's a cultural statement, a personal journey, and a bold challenge to societal and art world conventions around disability. Lari brings an intensely personal and political lens to the exhibition, which is inspired by crip and queer culture. "Sweet Crip" immerses visitors in an environment that transcends the typical gallery space. It’s a world filled with pillows, beds, stim toys, and blankets, alongside books, chocolate, and marshmallows. Here, wheelchairs and crutches aren’t just medical aids but part of a narrative that challenges the notion of ableism. The exhibition redefines the queer and crip body as the new norm of representation, facilitating a space where discussions, readings, screenings, and even naps intertwine.

The exhibition brings together an array of talented artists, including the crip-queer theatre project Criptonite by Zurich-based artists Edwin Ramirez and Nina Mühlemann, which fuses Greek mythology with personal experiences of disability. Panteha Abareshi's art, grounded in their experience with sickle cell zero beta thalassemia, confronts the able-bodied gaze, interrogating the place of the sick/disabled body within medical institutions. Artists like Benoît Piéron, Sahara Azzeg, and Sabrina Röthlisberger-Belkacem also contribute their unique perspectives. Piéron's work is a contemplative exploration of the ambiguous boundaries between health and illness, while Azzeg's art focuses on queer visibility and identity. Röthlisberger-Belkacem's practice, spanning various mediums, delves into the themes of identity, healing, and transformation.

"Sweet Crip" is deeply personal for Lari Medawar, who infuses the exhibition with their own anecdotes and needs. The concept of "crip time" plays a significant role, allowing for a different approach to time and space, accommodating the varied rhythms of life experienced by people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Lari's approach to sharing their personal library within the exhibition is an act of vulnerability and generosity. It's a way to invite visitors into their world, providing context and depth to the themes explored in the show. Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of "Sweet Crip" is its ability to attract and engage people outside the usual contemporary art audience. The exhibition has hosted moments of casual intimacy, like eating pizzas on the floor, which have broken down the barriers between the art and its viewers. This inclusivity extends beyond physical accessibility, encompassing a broader approach that welcomes diverse social and economic backgrounds.

At its core, "Sweet Crip" is a political statement. It confronts the discrimination and ableism that pervade not just the city of Biel but the wider world. The exhibition becomes a space of resistance and awareness, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of the disabled and queer communities.

Image courtesy of Panteha Abareshi "AN EXERCISE IN LOGIC (IF YOU PUT THE BODIES IN THE FIRE)"