NEW YORK, NY - Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist (b. 1962), best known for her lush multimedia installations that playfully and provocatively merge fantasy and reality, has created a site-specific monumental video, sound, and sculptural installation that will immerse MoMA's atrium in moving images for the first time. Multiple high definition projections comprise a panorama measuring 25 feet high and 200 feet in almost surround, turning the atrium into a gigantic pool of images filled with liquid volume of light and color.

Visitors will be able to experience the work while walking through the space or sitting upon a sculptural seating island designed by the artist and Atelier Rist Sisters. Sound by Anders Guggisberg. Organized by Klaus Biesenbach, Chief Curator of Media, The Museum of Modern Art.  On view 19 November through 2 February, 2009 at MoMA.

Biography

Elisabeth Charlotte Rist was born in 1962 in Grabs, Sankt Gallen, in Switzerland. Since her childhood she has been nicknamed Pipilotti. The name refers to the novel 'Pippi Longstocking' by Astrid Lindgren. Rist studied at the Institute of Applied Arts in Vienna, through 1986. She later studied video at the School of Design (Schule für Gestaltung) in Basel, Switzerland. In 1997 her work was first featured in the Venice Biennial, where she was awarded the Premio 2000 Prize.

From 2002 to 2003, she was invited by Professor Paul McCarthy to teach at UCLA as a visiting faculty member. Pipilotti Rist currently lives with her common law partner Balz Roth, with whom she has a son, named Himalaya.

During her studies Pipilotti Rist began making super 8 films. Her works generally last only a few minutes, and contained alterations in their colors, speed, and sound. Her works generally treat issues related to gender, sexuality, and the human body.

In contrast to those of many other conceptual artists, her colorful and musical works transmit a sense of happiness and simplicity. Rist's work is regarded as feminist by some art critics. Her works are held by many important art collections worldwide.

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