Zoé Hagen – GINCUBATOR 2023-2024

FR/EN

Zoé Hagen (they/she) is a transdisciplinary artist born in Switzerland in the late 90s. After two years at drama school, Zoé joined the Académie Royale des Beaux- Arts de Bruxelles in 2020, where they studied for a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Choreography as part of the ISAC curriculum. Here, they develop their physical and vocal practice, their artistic and political vision, and their ability to work in a collective.

Zoé’s research in the last few years has focused on the creation of new works.

In recent years, Zoé’s research has questioned the links between intimacy and politics, vulnerability and power, reality and fiction, love and hate, shyness and sex appeal. Their inspirations range from pop stars to Web 3.0. Fire, creatures, the absurd, sexualities, post-apocalyptic worlds, empowerment and drama are at the heart of their research.

In 2011, they created their first solo « how to feel alive in a dying world ???« , a sci-fi tragi-comedy that relate the story of a drag-alien lost on Earth. This performance follows the way of their two other projects : « A.ROOM.POURED.OVER.ME » from Alice Giuliani and « Le troisième miroir » from Pierre-Louis Kerbart, for the creation of an auto-creation structur « Lonely Planet Fantasy ». The three artists explore their proposition during a residency at workspacebrussels and, in 2022, they work was presented at Volksroom and at Recyclart.

During their studies at ISAC, Zoé meets Liza Siche-Jouan. In 2011, they created the performative duo « catchaboom » which tells the story of their explosive love and anger. This work, which aims to crush the patriarchy into a thousand pieces, was presented as part of their curriculum and at the Pink Screen Festival 2022. In 2023, the project was selected for Zinnema’s Brussels Bijoux program.

Alongside their performance practice, Zoé trains themself and their group in pole dancing, musical expression (guitar, vocals, ukulele), writing, theatrical improvisation, drawing, digital art and make-up. Their work has been exhibited at the Beursschouwburg, as part of the SNAP Festival 2022 and virtually for the exhibition « Metamorphosis » curated by Kika Nicolela and Thomas Israël. They are also developing as a make-up artist for performance and film.

Zoé conceptualizes their artistic development as a 3D network in constant regeneration. It builds up little by little and evolves its artistic and environmental metamorphosis. All parts cohabit and interact in a non-linear fashion.

They consider their experience to be political and sees their art as a militant tool. If you get close enough, you can hear them whispering: DOWN WITH STIGMATIZATION AND SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION / FREE QUEERS, FREAKS, ARTISTS, ANIMALS & BITCHES!!!!

 Ⓒ louiskerckhof