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
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – Elena Montesinos, 2020

 

Elena Montesinos - The Montesinos Foundation
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – Elena Montesinos, 2017

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY  – Elena Montesinos – photo by Lumière Noire, 2017
BONFIRE OF POVERTY  – Elena Montesinos – photo by Lumière Noire, 2017

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Demir Sönmez, 2016
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Demir Sönmez, 2016

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019

 


BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – video by Lumière Noire, 2019

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019

 

BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY – Le Bûcher des Endettés – photo by Lumière Noire, 2019

 

The Wild Panthers for the 2020 BONFIRE OF POVERTY
The Wild Panthers for the 2020 BONFIRE OF POVERTY

 

MORE PHOTOS

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, SPOKESPERSONDEC17TH, ARMAGEDDONSERVEZ-VOUS, LIBERTAS LIBERTASHUMAN RIGHTS KARAOKE, WEED AMBASSY (DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT), FEED THE WORLD, YOU WIN, THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG, BORDERLINE, IN LOVING MEMORYARM WRESTLING, PA-PA-PAP-PAP, SOUND OF THE SYSTEMINFINITY, GOLDEN SHOWER, YOUTRIBE, COUNTERFEIT FOR PAGANS, XXX, ALIEN NATIONSAFT, HAPPY MONDAY, ERRATUM, DOMINUS PROVIDEBITHOW TO BUILD AN EMPIRE, OIL OIL OILPICKPOCKETSFORTUNAI WALK THE LINEPIMP MY RIDE, LOVE IT.


 

THE MONTESINOS FEDERATION

HOME OF TMF
GET A NERVE! (2020)
GET A NERVE! (2019)
MAXIMA LVX VIRIDITATIS
PA-PA-PAP-PAP
BONFIRE OF POVERTY
UNION TMF 24/7
THE MESS AGE IS THE MESSAGE
NIGHT OF THE LIVING SCARECROWS