Pipilotti Rist

Pipilotti combined her childhood nickname, Lotti, with the first name of the Swedish children’s story character Pippi Longstocking to create her artistic moniker under which she’s become renowned on the world art scene as the fairy godmother of video art. But her mischievous and playful artistic demeanour evokes the image of a mermaid or a water nymph more readily than that of a good fairy. Her works are in constant flux, borrowing a liquid form that renders them sparkling and elusive, dreamlike and mercurial. Indeed, Pipilotti Rist, whose very first films were influenced by Dada and Fluxus performers and pioneers of video art such as Vito Acconci, Bruce Nauman, Yoko Ono and Nam June Paik, has since proven by example that video art is not necessarily an exercise in black and white cerebral asceticism. It can also exist in a sensual, warm and burlesque humorous light. With their pop soundtracks, psychedelic colours, inquisitive and up-close camera work, Rist’s videos have enchanted diverse audiences around the world, making her a star revered far beyond the world of contemporary art.