Andrea Éva Győri was born in Budapest, Hungary (1985), studied in Stuttgart with Christian Jankowski (head curator of the Manifesta 11 in 2016) and Mike Bouchet at ABK Stuttgart, Germany. Her work touches issues such as acceptance and rejection in society as an individual (or) as an artist. Hereby she covers topics like well-being and health as well as mental – physical diseases. In her drawings and performances she deals with topics related to identities and political issues. Andrea Éva Győri often does research and practices criticism in different sarcastic and humorist ways. Thereby she focuses on problematic behavior patterns like phobia of viruses, cancer or sense of shame for one’s own sexuality.  Since 2012 Győri has been touring with her “shower performance”. Celebrities from the art community like Paul McCarthy and Johan Holten have participated. “Shower Tour” exhibited at Kassel Documenta 13, Venice Biennale Hungarian Pavilion, and other exhibition spaces – this year Andrea took a shower in our office bathroom!

Why did you decide to go on a “shower tour” and when did this idea come up? What does the process of showering mean to you?

Back then, I had no shower in my flat. The idea came up to ask people for a shower possibility.

It is a call for help: I ask my fellows for a shower possibility and tell them that I like to be the most hard working artist on earth, because it is my aim to become one with my art. To become one with my art, I have to be in a healthy state of mental hygiene, which I can only reach, when at the same time physical hygiene is proper. I have to feel clean, fresh and comfortable!

I announce my name and phone: 0176 684 722 92

The one that gives me a shower possibility can take a photo or a film of my showering as a reward.

Your art covers social and political problems in society, identity issues as well as health issues and diseases – how is your “Shower Tour” connected to these topics?

The body’s hygiene features individual hygiene practices to increase health and a sense of well-being. The reasons for personal practices of hygiene are prevention of diseases, the cure of diseases, a good body feeling and a state of well-being; as well as acceptance of  fellow men, of society and the influence on mental health.

With my art, I dislocate that invisible border between public and private. Each human being needs hygiene. Everywhere people are welcome to eat or drink in others private places, for example if someone invites one for a dinner at home. Why I am welcome to eat at a private place from a stranger, but why I can’t take a shower at their place. I query this custom with my artwork. I think to offer someone a shower possibility should be the same thing as to provide food or a place to sleep, because both are basic needs for humans.

 You take showers at homes of people that are connected to the art scene, please tell us a few names …

I take shower at places from the usual society like labour office worker from the German Arbeitsamt, policeman, masseur of a Korean spa, cleaning woman of families homes, teachers, workers of hotels and as well artists and curators. It is as well an important question for me, what kind of professions the people have who are inviting me to take shower at their work place or their home. I have already had 55 showers. My first shower invitation from the art seen was by Ingeborg Wiensowsky at Wiensowski & Harbord Galery in Berlin. Portikus in Frankfurt, as well as the Hungarian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale were following. I had shower invitation from the curator Dr. Sabine Maria Schmidt from “Labor für Kritik und Weitsicht“ at the WELTKUNSTZIMMER in Düsseldorf. One in the Frankfurt hotel room of my favourite artist Paul McCarthy and, just as important, from my best friend the Puerto Rican graphic designer Moranyelie Osorio at the Pharagon Spa in Seoul Korea. In that Spa room where more than 40 showers and everywhere a lot of cold and hot water came out. I remember that I showered over an hour.

Tell us about your best shower experience!

I had many great shower experiences, it is really hard to choose one of them. Two other great experiences were the showers at the privet flats of the curators Maria Isserlis and Clara Meister. It was very interesting that Maria and Clara were as well remembering the famous shower scene from Hitchcock’s film “Psycho” and trying to reproduce that strange sound, when someone is coming behind the shower curtain.

What is the most exciting aspect about your “Shower Tour”?

For me the most exciting aspect is that I know if I get a shower possibility, I become clean.

 How are people’s reactions towards your nudeness?  And how are you utilizing these reactions for your art?

Most people react very soberly on my nudeness. There is no embarrassment. These reactions are not that important for my art.

 Do you ever shower at home?

 I do not always have a frequent shower possibility where I live, so I rely on invitations.

What exited you the most during your shower session at the ARTPRESS office?

It was interesting to have a shower in a bathroom that was new, so I was the first person using it. Besides, it was interesting during my shower, that all of your press office workers were females and that these workers tried to make this shower very comfortable for me with the song “Happy” of Pharrell Williams. Then all the workers were dancing to this song in the bath while I was showering. The workers were celebrating the first shower in their office, this was something that happened the first time during my shower tour.

 Mehr Infos zur Künstlerin: gyoeri.com