GESTE Paris presents UtOpium

Thank You !

Thanks to our artists an all our visitors. Looking forward to 2025 ! 

2 November - 21 December 2024

Now Open by Appointment

GESTE Paris announces “UtOpium” as its 7th annual exhibition *curated by Shin-Dō. 

UtOpium explores the intricate relationship between the idealistic visions of utopia and the seductive allure of opium, symbolizing society's addiction to unattainable ideals. This juxtaposition serves as a critical lens through which we examine how the pursuit of perfection can lead to dystopian realities. 

In the exhibition, a diverse range of artists confront the paradox of utopia: while it promises liberation and fulfillment, it often results in disillusionment and despair. Works feature immersive photo installations, provocative sculptures, and thought-provoking multimedia pieces that challenge viewers to reflect on their aspirations and the societal structures that shape them. Invited artists include: Naomi B Cook, Nikhil Chopra + Shivani Gupta, Kwama Frigaux, Jason Gardner, Jorge Rosano Gamboa, Ntshepe Tsekere Bopape (Mo Laudi), Hetain Patel, Daphane Park, AR+BG Antoine Ribaut + Betsy Green, Valery Schatz, Jura Shust, Fiona Valentine Thomann.  GESTE Collection artists: Kwoma Kollective, Kwoma Kollective + Paris, Celine Excoffon, Mark Geffriaud, Tua Aiari Kari, Man Ray, SLB, Zieromuko

Ultimately, UtOpium invites audiences to question their own ideals and the consequences of their relentless pursuit. It serves as a reminder that while the vision of a perfect world can inspire, it can also ensnare us in a cycle of addiction to the unattainable, leading to a dystopian existence. Through this exploration, we elucidate a dialogue about the complexities of human desire and the realities of our world.

"How can obsession transform a utopia into a dystopia? What form would your artificial paradise take? What plunges you into an ecstatic state, the object you cannot be without? UtOpium is an invitation to other curators, artists and collectors to propose works capable of arousing a form of obsession, evoking a feeling of addiction, or creating an effect of aspiration towards an elsewhere.  We are therefore, playing with the idea of when the artists' subject becomes the object and the collector's object becomes the subject”.

-Shiva Lynn Burgos

“Art for me is about realising a transcendence, shifting the focal lens in ways that are often obscure, unsettling yet beautiful. Our theme this year plays on our inner desires for that immeasurable feeling of accelerated perfection and how artists and collectors are lured into aesthetic wonder” 

-Skinder Hundal

GESTE Paris is an annual underground exhibition of experimental photography and image-based artworks organised Shiva Lynn Burgos. GESTE brings together vintage and contemporary works by both established and emerging artists. Like a secret speakeasy GESTE is presented in the convivial setting of a classic Parisian apartment that provides a space for reflection and dialogue. GESTE is the nexus of a private collection, artwork from leading galleries, and a selection by invited curators.