WINDSOR SS18

Sylvie Fleury is a Swiss artist. She was born in 1961 in Geneva, where she resides today in the Villa Magica. Art and life are always an entity in the sphere of Sylvie Fleury. The profanities of life, such as driving your car to the petrol station or reading a fashion magazine or shooting your favorite Chanel bag with a machine gun, become a performance and can be revisited on screens in museum institutions and galleries. An important element of Sylvie Fleury’s toolbox is the phenomenon of consumerism and its iconic products. She sets them up in a completely new context using the gesture of the readymade. What occurs is a combination of strange familiarity and unsettling allure. And Sylvie Fleury never underestimates the power of a beautiful car. Her sculpture «Skylark» (1992) is made up of a 67 Buick of the same name, a Pucci scarf, a magazine and sunglasses on the front seat bench with some music playing from the radio. At which moment did you decide to become an artist? In the early eighties, I decided to leave school and went to New York to study photography. After two years I returned to Geneva and lived in a small apartment in the old town, I decorated it like a medical office. I would dress as a doctor and drive a white station wagon with opaque windows which allowed me to use the bus lanes. I bought an électrochoc machine in the flea market and my sitting room was the waiting room. I loved to drink effervescent vitamins and record their sounds. At that time, I ran a gallery with friends. Later on, I became interested in shopping – it was the early nineties. I decided to show things I bought still in their shopping bags. I drove muscle cars and taped the sounds of the V8 or women walking with high heels in parking lots. If you had to choose another occupation, what would it be? I’d be interested in being a collector and creating spaces for my collections. Who is your hero? My brother who died of Aids in 1989, when they had not found the cure yet. One of your iconic Vogue magazi- ne covers is part of the windsor. collection. Can you tell us more? The cover series captivates a moment. Things in the air at that time. Trying to entice you to buy it. There is something about the magic of a cover. And the knowledge, that there is suppo- sed to be more behind it. What is your favorite art work ever? Today a Mercury Cyclone 69, one of the prettiest muscle cars. But I really love Cady Noland’s artworks in general. „I love those fake paint splat tered clothes or shoes. I have a l i t t le col lect ion of such pieces.” What is the first thing you do in the morning? I say hello to my cat. She normally wakes me up because she is hungry. I need to feed her so I can have another snooze. Her favorite food is gluten-free crackers. Why does she eat gluten-free? Because she’s here and now. What is the appropriate outfit for an artist? I love those fake paint splattered clothes or shoes. I have a little collection of such pieces. Which city inspires you? Right now, I find nature and seclusion more exciting than cities. What do you need to be in working mode? I need to be content and in a good mood. What are you working on today? I am working on shaped canvasses I will be showing in November in New York. It’s interesting to me because my shows are very «mixed media» usually and it will be the first time to show paintings only. What will you be working on in 5 years? Crystal balls as always. Flats or high heels? Bare foot on the gas pedal. Nude or colours? Yes to all. What is the meaning of life? Be amazing or not. Are galleries valid? Do we need valet parking in front of galleries? Of course we do! Is life a Formula One race? You choose. Yes to all. Be amazing. Kunst und Mode in einen Kontext zu stellen ist das Thema der windsor. Art Collection. Die windsor. Stores zeigen Werke zeitgenössischer Künstler und Künstlerinnen, unter anderem von Sylvie Fleury. Die Schweizerin – 1993 hat sie den eidgenössischen Pavillon auf der Biennale in Venedig bespielt – setzt sich auf lakonische Weise mit Themen wie Luxus und Konsum auseinander. Ihr goldener Einkaufswagen, ihr Mega-Parfumflacon, Ready-made-Installationen und Leuchtschrift-Statements haben die Künstlerin berühmt gemacht. Wir freuen uns, Sie mit Arbeiten von Sylvie Fleury inspirieren zu dürfen. Be amazing. Putting art and fashion in context is the theme of the windsor. Art Collection. The windsor. Stores show works by contemporary artists, including Sylvie Fleury. The Swiss artist – whose works were displayed in the Swiss pavilion at the 1993 Venice Biennale – deals with topics such as luxury and consumption in a laconic manner. Her golden trolley, mega-sized perfume flacon, ready-made installations and neon signs have made the artist famous. We are looking forward to inspiring you with works by Sylvie Fleury. 75 74