In 2019 Christoph Zellweger worked on an inquiry into the omnipresence of man-made substances under the title Risks & Chances, to be shown in a solo exhibition at the Benaki Museum in Athens in 2020. Between 03 March and early April 2020 Zellweger got severely ill with Covid. In July he slowly got back into his studio to critically review and continue the unfinished work. From September 2021 to April 2022 the intervention The Cabinet of Risks & Chances, consisting of twentysix glass ampoules, was shown first time at the Pharmacy Museum Lisbon, as part of the 1st Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennial.
The Cabinet of Risks & Chances consists of hermetically sealed glass vessels – ampoules, that contain physical substances of various kinds. Ampoules can be transported safely, but without destroying them, it is unclear if a vessel contains – a cure – or else – a threat? With an increasing number of pills, powders and injections, we moderate the way we experience life, how we reproduce or age and how we face death. With the right cocktail of substances, tranquillisers, painkillers or hormones, we may help people to lead a more desirable life or, change the sex of a population of fish. All substances we design have a long-term effect on all living organisms.
How does it feel to wear a glass ampoule filled with a substance that can be both life-saving, toxic or addictive?
Christoph Zellweger is a maker, designer/artist and a researcher, whose motivation is rooted in the unconditional ambition to create engaging and innovative artefacts and tangible exhibitions and to pursue research questions that can influence the way in which we think, view life, behave or experience the everyday - for example when wearing contemporary artefacts.
As part of the public lecture series "Delightful Doing" Christoph Zellweger will give the lecture "Embracing Resistance" on 30 October at 6:30 pm. Before the exhibition, from 6 pm, he will open the exhibition at the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus. He is also part of the "Extranalities" jewellery collective, which will open the exhibition „The First, the Worst, the Best & the Rest“ from Friday, 31 October at Villa Bengel in Idar-Oberstein.
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