EVENT IN english

Developing her own methodologies of visual and sound archiving, Christelle Oyiri disrupts the spinning wheel of nostalgia. Born in France to Ivorian and Guadeloupean parents, Oyiri’s identity is shaped by the diplomatic, social, and metaphysical legacies of colonization — and by the subtle ways these histories continue to influence cultural behaviors, family narratives, and the broader experiences of the African diaspora. Working across music, film, performance, and installation, Oyiri delves into the unseen and the unspoken — what she calls “the things that lie between the lines.” Her work often reimagines lost mythologies, youth subcultures, and diasporic histories, revealing how these undercurrents shape contemporary culture and identity.

The talk will navigate Oyiri’s visual art and music practice, exploring the artist’s cultural influences and exploring her more recent works.

Christelle Oyiri is an artist, DJ and producer based in Paris. She has presented installations, performances, and events internationally, including at the Centre Pompidou (Paris), Haus der Kunst (Munich), Tramway (Glasgow), Tate Modern (London), Bourse du Commerce (Paris), and LAS Art Foundation (Berlin). She also performs as a DJ under the pseudonym CRYSTALMESS.

Martha Kirszenbaum is a curator, writer and editor based in Paris. She graduated from Sciences-Po in Paris and Columbia University. She was the curator of the French Pavilion of the 58th Venice Biennale represented by Laure Prouvost, and founded and directed Fahrenheit, an exhibition space and residency program in Los Angeles. She previously worked at MoMA, New Museum and Centre Pompidou and has organized exhibitions, screenings, performances and talks at renowned international institutions. She is a regular contributor to numerous art publications and teaches internationally.

Portret Chirstelle Oyiri - Christelle Oyiri © Tate Photography, Jai Monaghan

BMW Polska, BMW Art Club