LE BÛCHER DES ENDETTÉS [BONFIRE OF POVERTY]
Annual performance in Geneva curated by The Montesinos Federation since 2016
Inspired by one of the most striking images of medieval Geneva, this project offers the Genevan population a great moment of symbolic jubilation by revisiting the concept of a pyre set up in a public place. The idea of this liberating fire is to invite everyone to come and get rid of those “burdensome” documents that weigh down our existence : parking tickets, court summonses, overdue invoices, reminders or receipts, either the originals or photocopies depending on each one’s preference.
A “Debtors’ Parade” preceeds the fiery performance. The procession heads to the Pointe de la Plaine de Plainpalais where the lighting of the fire and the burning of documents takes place.
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – Elena Montesinos, 2020](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Bonfire_20_LNA-600x388.jpg)
![Elena Montesinos - The Montesinos Foundation Elena Montesinos - The Montesinos Foundation](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/lna002-600x400.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Elena Montesinos – photo by Lumière Noire, 2017](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN2-600x415.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN4-600x400.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Demir Sönmez, 2016](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Bucher2016_Demir_Sonmez-600x384.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN6-600x400.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN5-600x400.jpg)
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – video by Lumière Noire, 2019
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN7-600x400.jpg)
![BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/bucherLN1-600x400.jpg)
![The Wild Panthers for the 2020 BONFIRE OF POVERTY](https://themontesinosfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/wildP.jpg)
2020 Articles in La Tribune de Genève & in 360° (in French)
2019 Article in Le Temps (in French)
2019 Article in Le Courrier (in French)
2018 Article in La Tribune de Genève (in French)
2017 Interview & review in La Spirale (in French)
2016 Walk on the Public Site performances curated by Madeleine Amsler & Marie-Eve Knoerle
ARTWORKS
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, MAXIMA LVX, SPOKESPERSON, DEC17TH, ARMAGEDDON, SERVEZ-VOUS, LIBERTAS LIBERTAS, HUMAN RIGHTS KARAOKE, WEED AMBASSY (DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT), FEED THE WORLD, YOU WIN, THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG, BORDERLINE, IN LOVING MEMORY, ARM WRESTLING, PA-PA-PAP-PAP, SOUND OF THE SYSTEM, INFINITY, GOLDEN SHOWER, YOUTRIBE, COUNTERFEIT FOR PAGANS, XXX, ALIEN NATION, SAFT, HAPPY MONDAY, ERRATUM, DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT, HOW TO BUILD AN EMPIRE, OIL OIL OIL, PICKPOCKETS, FORTUNA, I WALK THE LINE, PIMP MY RIDE, LOVE IT.