Criptonite / Edwin Ramirez + Nina Mühlemann (Zürich)

Bild zeigt Criptonite
Foto: Naomi Tereza Salmon
Bild zeigt Criptonite
Foto: Naomi Tereza Salmon

Biography:

Edwin Ramirez and Nina Muehlemann are both performance artists based in Zurich. They have previously collaborated on the Future Clinic for Critical Care, a queer-crip theater project focused on care and disability. Both of them have worked as curators, directors, writers and performers in this project. Although neither of them has had formal arts training Edwin was able to bring in his experiences as a Stand Up Comedian, while Nina Mühlemann in her knowledge of disability rights.

Freischwimmen project:

Criptonite is a queer-crip theatre project. As two self-identified disabled, queer artists we use it to give a platform to other, emerging disabled artists and to engage with questions around access, interdependence and bodily autonomy. Our aesthetic is very DIY and informed by cripness, drag and pop culture. We put on themed shows that use satire as well as lived experience to explore themes relevant to us, examples being superpowers and inspiration or our affinity for slow animals.

Statement:

For us, as a group from Switzerland, creating links with Germany and Austria was enormously important. Through the FREISCHWIMMEN network we could build lasting connections to venues, other artist collectives, and to local communities. In particular, establishing dialogue with other disabled artists served to enrich our work enormously.

Weblinks:

Performances:

Invitations and residencies:

Invitations

2021 HochX, Munich
2022 Bones Festival, Bern
2022 FFT, Düsseldorf
2022 Sophiensæle, Berlin

Residencies

2022 brut, Vienna

Freischwimmen is currently supported by the network funding of the Fonds Darstellende Künste.

Freischwimmen was funded in 2020-23 by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media via the "Promoting Connections" program of the Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V.

Freischwimmen was also supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council.