Emma Portner’s complex and delicate choreography draws on the grotesque, the artificial, and extreme emotionality, her extraordinary performances leaving her audiences breathless. Femme Debout, created specially for the exhibition of Francis Bacon & Alberto Giacometti..
Portner showed immediate enthusiasm at the idea of collaborating with the Fondation Beyeler: “Bacon and Giacometti are two of my favorite visual artists of all time. They both have moved me so deeply for years. They broke boundaries and made us uncomfortable. They made us reflect on a deeper level. I couldn’t resist this collaboration. It was an immediate ‘yes’ from my side. It is also a complete honor to collaborate with the Fondation Beyeler. Bringing movement in response to stillness is fascinating. It is a chance for these works to come to life. It is a chance for me to give these still pieces real breathing bodies.”