Collective memory is at the center of the artist research. Her practices explores the memories of others through their life stories, personal archives and meaningful places. These elements constitute the main inspiration and source material for her work, and her installations and films reimagine and represent her collaborators’ stories.
Nina Haab is now particularly interested in the archetypal dimensions of autobiographies and how they relate to different locations and their respective local cultures. In that sense, memories construct personal and collective identities, and whether they true or false becomes less important than how they may provide new narrative material.
Nina Haab is a swiss artist born in 1985 in Bellinzona. She currently lives and works in Geneva, where she graduated with a M. A degree in visual arts from Haute Ecole d’Art et de Design (HEAD). In 2012, she was granted by the City of Geneva an artist studio after winning a Federal Prize at Swiss Art Awards in Basel. In 2015-2016, the artist was invited to participate at ABA an artist residency in Berlin supported by Pro Helvetia.
Nominated for the Prix Mobilière in 2019, in 2020 she was short-listed again for the Swiss Art Awards and was awarded with the Abraham Hermanjat Prize.
Nina Haab presented her work in individual and collective exhibitions such as: Centre d’art Contemporain, Geneva; Kunstmuseum, Lucerne; Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana, Lugano; Kunsthaus Langenthal; Fondazione Cesare Pavese, Santo Stefano Belbo; KUNST-WERKE|Studiolo, Berlin; Château d’Aubais; GAM, Torino; Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge, Genève; Musée Jenisch, Vevey.
Education
2009 – 12
Master in Secondary Education (Visual Arts), IUFE, University of Geneva
2009 – 11
Master in Visual Arts, Orientation Trans/ Mediation Teaching, HEAD, Geneva
2006 – 09
Bachelor in Visual Arts, polo art/media, HEAD, Geneva
2003 – 06
Liceo artistico, CSIA, Lugano
Awards | Grants | Residencies
2022
Visual Art Studio, Bâtiment de L’Usine, FMAC – Geneva (2022-2024)
2020
Grant Abraham Hermanjat Foundation
Nominated for Federal Prize, Swiss Art Awards (competition cancelled due to COVID)
Visual art production Grant of the City of Nyon
Visual art production Grant of the District of Nyon
2019
Nominated for Prix Mobilière
2017
Video art production Grant, FCAC – Geneva
Contemporary art production Grant, FMAC – Geneva
2016
Nominated for Federal Prize, Swiss Art Awards
Nominated for Manor Art Prize, Ticino
2015-16
ABA – AIR Berlin Alexanderplatz, Artist Residency, Berlin (DE), Pro Helvetia (01.08.15 – 31.01.16)
2015
Projet FAC, Artist Residency with Stefano De Ponti, St-Ursanne, Jura (CH) (06.07.15 – 01.08.15)
Video art production Grant, FCAC – Geneva
2013
Visual Art Studio, Bâtiment de L’Usine, FMAC – Geneva (2013-2015)
Video art production Grant, FCAC – Geneva
2012
Federal Prize, Swiss Art Awards
2011
Carte blanche à des jeunes curateurs, collective NotOnlyKidsPlay, Villa Dutoit – Geneva
2006
Prize « Giovani Artisti », Piazza Blues, Bellinzona
Collections
Collection of works of art from the City of Nyon (CH)
Musée Jenisch Vevey (CH)
FMAC – Collection of contemporary art, City of Geneva (CH)
Fondazione Archivio Fotografico Roberto Donetta, Corzoneso (CH)
Private Collections (CH – DE – FR – BE – PL – IT)
Solo exhibitions (*duo)
2022
Challenge? With Beat Lippert, Galère gallery, Nyon (CH)*
2021
So, here you are. Christine Boillat – Nina Haab, DuflonRacz gallery, Bruxelles (BE)*
Wiktor Dyndo – Nina Haab: Post-History, Szydlowski gallery, Varsovie (PL)*
2020
Soll ich bleiben oder gehen?, espace eeeeh, Nyon (CH)
2019
Il molteplice ridiventa uno, cur. Elisa Rusca, Cesare Pavese Foundation, Santo Stefano Belbo (IT)
Edgelands. Christine Boillat and Nina Haab, DuflonRacz gallery, Bern (CH)*
2018
Amnesie, cur. Elisa Rusca, Fondazione Archivio Fotografico Roberto Donetta, Corzoneso (CH)
2017
Cabinet of engraved topicalities, DuflonRacz gallery, Bern (CH)
The life around a fake lake, cur. Joris Brantuas, Latelier gallery, Sète (FR)
2016
Calce, collaboration with the sound artist Stefano De Ponti, Tour of Europe (IT, DE, CZ,…)*
The life around a fake lake, municipal hall, Ardon (CH)
The life around a fake lake, municipal hall, Hérémence (CH)
Salon n°2 : Identity of a resident stranger, cur. Yvonne Reiners, KW Institute for contemporary art | Studiolo, Berlin (DE)
2014
Ways of, cur. Isaline Vuille, Kunstunion, Zurich (CH)
Actions, Reactions and Other Stories Nino Baumgartner & Nina Haab, Sonnenstube, Lugano (CH)*
2013
Taboo, cur. Fondation genevoise pour le dépistage du cancer du sein, Cité Générations, Onex (CH)
Binding, cur. Federica Martini, standard/deluxe, Lausanne (CH)
2011
Généalogie d’identité(s) with Carine Parola, DémArt, Lausanne (CH)*
Silence Is Sexy 1.5 with Umberto De Martino, cur. Regaida Comensoli, Noah Stolz and Patrick Gosatti, la rada, Locarno (CH)*
2010
Cahier intime en Asie, Juno Design, Muralto (CH)
Memorie, rassegna da artista ad artista, Malakoff, Bellinzona (CH)
Conferences | Events
2022
Narrations, cur. Serval and Kalonji, MAH, Geneva (CH)
2021
Visarte Talks #4 – Nina Haab, Studio Foce, Lugano (CH)
2020
Baustelle concert (Killian Perret-Gentil and Benjamin Jaton), espace eeeeh, Nyon (CH)
CONVERSATION N.1 with Emmanuelle Antille, Nina Haab, Elisa Rusca, Laura Thiong- Toye and Isaline Vuille, Swiss Art Awards, Geneva (CH)
2017
Kunstbar mit Künstlerinnen und Künstler von 3×3, cur. Raffael Dörig and Claire Hoffmann, Kunsthaus Langenthal (CH)
2010
2016 What lies beneath the surface – Nina Haab, cur. Noah Stolz, Stella Maris, Kunstmuseum Luzern, Lucerne (CH)
2015
PECHA KUCHA ART NIGHT. WHAT’S HOT, cur. Yvonne Reiners and Tina Sauerländer, Haus am Lützowplatz, Berlin (DE)
Salon n°1 : Identity of a resident stranger, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin (DE)
Visual arts Expertise | Teaching
2023
Member of the Jury, Prix Focale – Swiss Prize for Documentary Photography (CH)
Member of the Jury, Art Award of the City of Nyon (CH)
2022
Member of the Jury, Bachelor Re/Production – images, documents, publishing, HEAD, Genève (CH)
Member of the Jury, Diplomas Master TRANS – Socially Engaged Art Practices, HEAD, Genève (CH)
Member of the Jury, Art Award of the City of Nyon (CH)
2021
Workshop Godzillab, Embassy of foreign artists, Carouge (CH)
2019
Workshop Godzillab, Embassy of foreign artists, Carouge (CH)
Since 2019
Visual arts Expert, Cultural Affairs Commission of the City of Nyon (CH)
Since 2011
Visual arts Teacher, DIP-COGC, Geneva (CH)
Group exhibitions
2023
Gardiens du silence, Musée Jenisch, Vevey (CH)
Les choses d’ici-bas, DuflonRacz Gallery, Bern (CH)
7ème Biennale des Artistes de Kugler et de leurs invité.e.s, Usine Kugler, Geneva (CH)
2022
Equilibres Précaires – A Fragile Balance, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Geneva (CH)
FMAC – Acquisitions 2021, FMAC, Geneva (CH)
Familiensache, cur. Simone Kobler and Céline Gaillard, Kunst(Zeug)Haus, Rapperswil-Jona (CH)
Panart Neuchâtel, cur. Gabriel Grossert, Neuchâtel (CH)
La Charge, cur. Andreas Hochuli, Circuit, Lausanne (CH)
2021
A dessin 6, Chapelle du quartier haut, Sète (FR)
MEMORY, Kunstmuseum Olten (CH)
2020
Artissima Unplugged. Stasi Frenetica, cur. Ilaria Bonacossa, GAM, Turin (IT)
IT’S MY PARTY: DEEP END, cur. Regaida Comensoli and Giada Olivotto – Sonnenstube, Bagni Pompeiani, Arzo (CH)
Positions Berlin Art Fair, Szydlowski gallery, Berlin (DE)
Salle d’attente. Laura Thiong-Toye, Halle Nord, Geneva (CH)
2019
Feu sacré, Biennale Kugler, Usine Kugler, Geneva (CH)
Murmures, cur. Nina Schipoff, Saint-Maurice chapel, Alby-sur-Chéran (FR)
ArtStadtBern, Zytglogge, Bern (CH)
Amuse Yeux – Guests and Friends, DuflonRacz gallery, Bern (CH)
Tauwetter, cur. Nina Schipoff, Garage 19, Usine Kugler, Geneva (CH)
Prix Mobilière, Artgenève, Geneva (CH)
BIG PAINTINGS. Portraits, Still lifes, Landscapes, cur. Siripoj Chamroenvidhya, François Fontaine Gallery, Satigny (CH)
2018
Emoticons, cur. Hadrien Dussoix, Body & Soul, Geneva (CH)
Sparring partner, cur. Gilles Bingisser, Castle of Aubais (FR)
Arte e Humanitas: Immagine migrante, cur. Nadia Bensbih, Riccardo Lisi and Marco Stoffel, Spazio Elle, Locarno (CH)
L’art entre 46°1 n et 13°4 n, cur. Nina Schipoff, Les Ecuries du Château, Samoëns (FR)
From cities to us. Proprio lì, nella buca delle lettere., cur. Carolina Sanchez, Spazio Lampo, Chiasso (CH)
META – PAINTING, cur. Clarissa Chiaese, la rada, Locarno (CH)
2017
UTOPIC PARK – Biennale Kugler, Usine Kugler, Geneva (CH)
MY ART GOES BOOM, cur. Joris Brantuas, Villa Dutoit, Geneva (CH)
Schena da vedro. Kunstszene Tessin, cur. Peter Stohler, Kunst(Zeug)Haus, Rapperswil-Jona (CH)
3×3 zeitgenössische Blicke auf Johann Schär, cur. Raffael Dörig and Claire Hoffmann, Kunsthaus Langenthal (CH)
MY ART GOES BOOM, cur. Joris Brantuaus, Usine Kugler, Geneva (CH)
2016
Cross-border experiment, Latelier gallery, Sète (FR)
Is Anybody Home, cur. Elisa Rusca, Diskurs, Berlin (DE)
Swiss Art Awards 2016, Hall 4, Art Basel (CH)
Che c’è di nuovo?, cur. Elio Schenini, Dienstgebäude, Zurich (CH)
Che c’è di nuovo?, cur. Elio Schenini, Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana, Lugano (CH)
2015
Sviluppo-Parallelo, cur. Noah Stolz, Stella Maris, Kunstmuseum Luzern, Lucerne (CH)
Projet FAC with Stefano De Ponti, cur. Sébastien Peter, Fours-à-Chaux à St-Ursanne, Jura (CH)
Môtiers 2015 – Art en plein air, Swiss Federal Office of Culture, Môtiers (CH)
Postcard Pusher, Tramway, Villars sur Glâne (CH)
2014
Collettiva Humus Dance n°1, Humus Dance, Mendrisio (CH)
Gesto e pensiero. La libertà di donare., cur. Francesca Gattoni, Museo Tornielli, Ameno (IT)
2013
Bourses de la Ville de Genève – Fonds Berthoud, Lissignol-Chevalier et Galland, CAC, Geneva (CH)
Banana Split, Sonnenstube, Lugano (CH)
2012
Von hier nach dort. Über Brücken in Kultur, Baukunst und Gesellschaft, cur. Alexandra Könz, Vögele Kultur Zentrum, Pfäffikon (CH)
Swiss Art Awards, Hall 4, Art Basel (CH)
Overgamed, Villa Dutoit, Geneva (CH)
2011
MADE IN GENÈVE, Bibliothèque d’art et d’archéologie, Geneva (CH)
Rathania’s, ars similis casus, Musée Rath, Geneva (CH)
23 petits à petits, Lili’s Flat, Xi an (CN)
No Room to move, Agent Double, Geneva (CH)
Café des rêves, Helmhaus, Zurich (CH)
2010
Biennale de l’Image en Mouvement, (master Trans) Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva (CH)
4ème Biennale d’art en ville : Escales, Art-Chêne, (master Trans) Chêne-Bourg (CH)
HYPERACTIVITE-Summerlab 2010, Centre d’Art Neuchâtel (CH)
NOT ONLY KIDS PLAY, accrochage HEAD, Geneva (CH)
2009
Weihnachtsausstellung II, Agent Double, Geneva (CH)
Les Arts Incoherents Réactivés, Live in Your Head, Geneva (CH)
2008
Atelier Micro-édition HEAD, Bookshop Archigraphy, Geneva (CH)
TIC TAC interne, Cité du temps, Swatch Center, Geneva (CH)
Images a Project by Spike Art Magazine Images by Head fueled by OB, Forde, Geneva (CH)
2006
Disegnidistoriediverse, Atelier Attila, Bellinzona (CH)
Collective NotOnlyKidsPlay
2015
Postcard Pusher, Tramway, Villars sur Glâne (CH)
JOCHUA, Mathias Forbach – Fichtre, curatorial project, Atelier 411, L’Usine, Geneva (CH)
99 Failles : Delphine Battiaz & Marta Margnetti, curatorial project, Atelier 411, L’Usine, Geneva (CH)
Les commodités d’Arrachetesyeux, curatorial project, Atelier 411, L’Usine, Geneva (CH)
2014
Boomerang Location, Léonore Thélin & Abigail Janjic, curatorial project, Atelier 411, L’Usine, Geneva (CH)
Chris Kiss & Aline Peter, curatorial project, Atelier 411, L’Usine, Geneva (CH)
2013
Banana Split, curatorial project, Sonnenstube, Lugano (CH)
2012
La fabrique des transmissions, kids workshop, Mac/Val, Paris (FR)
Remise en jeu, group show, Villa Dutoit, Geneva (CH)
Overgamed, curatorial project, Villa Dutoit, Geneva (CH)
2011
Manifestation d’Art Contemporain (MAC 11), presentation, MAMCO, Geneva (CH)
Pas Seulement Les Enfants Jouent, project based in the Appartement of the collection Ghislain Mollet-Viéville during one year, MAMCO, Geneva (CH)
2010
Foundation of the collective NotOnlyKidsPlay (Antonin Demé, Nina Haab, Alexandra Häberli, Carine Parola, Isabelle Racine, Laura Thiong-Toye)
Collections Collective NotOnlyKidsPlay
Théâtre Forum de Meyrin
FCAC – Foundation of contemporary art, Geneva