Janis Polar (*1993) is a Basel-based visual artist and cultural researcher. He investigates ecologies—and his own entanglements within them— crossing intersections of natural science, media technology, (colonial) history and visual culture. His discursive research focuses on geographies rendered as ‹last frontiers of raw nature›, and their (potential) transformation into landscapes of extraction or attraction. These sites are approached with attention to both the human and non-human, to probe old and new ways of coexisting.

He experiments with various photographic and filmic devices, image archives, and found technical artefacts. Through the use of installation, photography, film, text and performance he establishes his own post-documentarian style. One that explores boundaries between image and language, landscape and body, fact and fiction, dystopian thought and utopian hope. In his artistic process, he often collaborates with sound artists, scientists and scientific institutions (e.g. ETH Zurich, Geomar, National Science Foundation, BGR, University of Basel).

Janis Polar has received various grants in  Switzerland (e.g. from Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council, Basel Cultural Department, Swiss Polar Institute, Cultural Department of Basel) and abroad (Tartu 2024, Fieldexplorer, Beijing Art Technology Biennale). His works have been exhibited and performed in Switzerland, Germany, the USA, Estonia, Poland or China. He recently presented his first institutional solo exhibition at Photoforum Pasquart (Bienne, CH).

He graduated with highest distinctions in Cultural Analysis, Film and Literature Studies (University of Zurich). His practice has been further influenced by his transdisciplinary work in image curation and art education for innovative institutions such as Fotomuseum Winterthur, Int. Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Migros Cultural Percentage.

  • 2 0 2 5

    Photoforum Pasquart (Bienne, CH), solo show, Antarctic Archives, Feb–April 2025

    Beijing Art and Technology Biennale (CN), mangan gardens, group show, Oct. 2024–May 2025

    Photoforum Pasquart (Bienne, CH), Alien vs. Predator #3, AV performance

    focusTerra/ETH Zürich (CH), group show, fixed installation, gel-[archive] #5, ex-de-plora, March 2025-June 2026

    2 0 2 4

    Wild Bits/ Tartu 2024 – European Capital of Culture (EE), group show, kuker/site, Mai–Sept 2024

    Migros Museum (Zürich, CH), a case of paranoia, AV performance with elfrid the third & ivan eyes

    Bildrausch Filmfest Basel (CH), gēotan #2, 16mm AV performance, with Legion Seven

    Universität Wuppertal (DE), ex-de-plora #3, installation during conference «Frühlingsakademie», March 21st–23rd

    2 0 2 3

    Currents New Media Festival (Santa Fe, USA), *gel-[archive] #4, group show, June 16th–25th

    Stadtkino/Bildrausch Filmfest Basel (CH), gēotan #1, fixed installation May 2023–May 2024

    Theater Neumarkt (Zürich, CH), a case of paranoia, AV performance with Elfrid the Third & Ivan Eyes

    Kaserne Basel (CH), «a case of paranoia», av-performance with elfrid the third & ivan eyes

    2 0 2 2

    Kulturwerk T66 (Freiburg, DE), ex-de-plora #2, group show, Regionale 23, Nov 2022–Jan 2023

    DOCK (Basel, CH), stories of 90°S-empir[e]cism #2, AV performance with Vivian Wang & Serafin Aebli

    DOCK (Basel, CH), *gel-[archive] #3, solo show, Oct – Dec 2022

    Forum/kHaus (Basel, CH), stories of 90°S-empir[e]cism #1, AV performance with Vivian Wang & Serafin Aebli

    Forum/kHaus (Basel, CH), ex-de-plora #1, solo show, June 2022

    2 0 2 1

    Jungkunst, Winterthur (Winterthur, CH), *gel-[archive] #2, group show, October 23rd–27th

    2 0 2 0

    KeinMuseum (Zürich, CH), *gel-[archive] #1, solo show, October 1st–10th

    2 0 1 9

    Int. Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (CH), autopo[i]etic khaos, AV performance

    2 0 1 8

    University of the Arts Bern (CH), autopo[i]etic khaos, master’s diploma shows, AV performance

  • 2024 «PolArts» grant with Dr. Sandra Bruegger, Swiss Polar Institute & Pro Helvetia (CH)

    2024 «START» grant Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council (CH)

    2024 Comission «Beijing Art Technology Biennal (CN)

    2024 Best Swiss Music Video Award, Solothurner Filmtage / m4music (CH)

    2024 Fundaziun Nairs Artist Residency (Scuol, CH)

    2024 Fieldexplorer Research Residency by Fieldstations and Filmexplorer (Berlin, GER)

    2024 Research Grant Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council (Zürich, CH)

    2023 Media Art Grant, Cultural Department Basel (CH)

    2023 Wild Bits Artist Residency & Wild Bits/Tartu 2024 Work Grant, (Tartu, EE)

    2023 Research Grant Cultural Department Basel (CH)

    2022 Media Art Grant, Cultural Department Basel | Ceroni Foundation (CH)

    2022 Exhibition Grant from Futurum Stiftung (CH)

    2021 Media Art Grant, Cultural Department Basel (CH)

  • 2022– Migros Cultural Percentage (Zürich, CH), coaching & program curation for upcoming artists (project: «Sparx»)

    2023 Pro Helvetia Shanghai (CN/CH), research trip coaching Naiyi Wang (chief curator 798 cube)

    2020–2022 Fotomuseum Winterthur (CH), Project Lead Art Mediation, Project: «From Print to Pixel»

    2018–2021Int. Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (CH), Co-Curator of contemporary and historical focus programs

    2017–2019 KinoKonkav (Basel, CH) co-founder & curator of film programs, e.g. with Pauline C. Jardin, Yuri Ancarani

  • 2024 Kanton Luzern (CH)– ST.ART Nachwuchsförderpreis HSLU ART, DESIGN, FILM (Cultural Promotion Award)

    2017–2018 Abteilung Kultur Basel (CH)– Kulturförderpreis (Cultural Promotion Award)

  • 2 0 2 5

    Symposium «Art & Science» @ «Entanglements Science Day 25», RWTH Aachen University (DE)

    Guest Lecture-Performance «Flood, Storm, Heat, Fire: Images and Imaginations of Ecological Chaos», EXTREMES - Swiss Society for Quaternary Research annual meeting, hosted by University of Bern (CH)

    Guest Lecture «Diskursive Herangehensweisen an Natur/Wissenschaft, oder: Geschichten aus dem Archiv», Master Seminar «Art & Research» by Prof Dr. Susanne Hefti, RWTH Aachen University

    2 0 2 4

    Studio Visit by SWISS PHOTOMONTH (by Spectrum), curated & moderated by Rahel Christen, Basel (CH)

    Lecture «Geological Times, Sunlight Fossils», as part of «Art and Design in Post-carbon Era», curated and moderated by Yixuan Cai, hosted by 798 cube/Ming Contemporary Art Museum (CN)

    Panel «RESIDENCIES REVIEW – Sharing as an aesthetic practice», moderated by Dr. Giuseppe Di Salvatore and Prof. Dr. Lidia Gasperoni, Fieldexplorer (Fieldstations & Filmexplorer)

    2 0 2 3

    Talk with Dimitra Andrescu (Forensic Architecture) and Britta Horlacher (SRF Investigativ) about investigative media practices, forensics and aesthetics, Bildrausch Filmfest Basel (CH)

    2 0 2 2

    Various «Art x Science» talks: with Dr. Gianalberto Losapio (Head of Biodiversity Change group, UNIL), Maëlle Cornut (Visual Artist), Prof. Dr. Gabriela Schaepmann-Strub (Earth System Scientist), Barbara Schibli (Author), moderated by Carla Peca/Janis Polar, hosted by DOCK/Forum/kHaus, Basel (CH)

    Guest Lecture «Buckminster Fullers Geodesic Domes in Historical and Contemporary Ecocritical Discourses, Art Theory and Practices» @ GTA ETH Zürich

    2 0 2 0

    Talk «Art x Science: Perspectives on Glacial Retreat» with Mauro Fischer (Glaciologist, University of Bern), Arian Bastani (Science Journalist) and Janis Polar (Artist), Carla Peca (Curator), @KeinMuseum (ZH)

    2 0 1 9

    Talk with Pauline Curnier Jardin in the context of a curated program by KinoKonkav, Stadtkino Basel

    2 0 1 8

    Talk with Yuri Ancarani in the context of curated film program by KinoKonkav in collaboration with Kunsthalle Basel, Stadtkino Basel

  • 2 0 2 2

    Master of Arts (University of Zürich): Cultural Analysis / Literature Studies, with visiting programs at University of Basel (Art History & Media Studies), ETH Zurich (History of Knowledge). Grade: summa cum laude.

    2 0 1 7

    Bachelor of Arts (University of Zürich): Film Studies / Literature Studies, Grade: magna cum laude.

forensic architecture