by Vincent Grange

Istituto Svizzero inaugurates its Milan programme with The House of Dorothy, the first solo exhibition in Italy by artist Vincent Grange (1997, born in Geneva, lives and works in Geneva). Grange presents an architectural installation designed for the spaces of Istituto Svizzero. 

The title of the project draws inspiration from the expression „friends of Dorothy,“ a code used by the gay community—and later the LGBTQIA+ community—in the United States starting in the 1950s to identify one another and evade persecution for homosexuality. The term was so widespread that in the 1980s the Naval Investigative Service launched a lengthy but ultimately futile investigation to locate Dorothy, believing her to be a real person. 

At the intersection of spatial design and queer history, The House of Dorothy reconstructs the home of this imagined figure, whose name was likely a tribute to the character played by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The various rooms narrate Dorothy’s life while simultaneously paying homage to a series of spaces historically significant to the LGBTQIA+ community. From legendary clubs to urban cruising spots, from historically significant homes to cinematic references, Dorothy’s house spans eras and geographies, gathering symbolic and real locations that have served as safe spaces for the queer community. 

The title also references the concept of „house“ in ballroom culture, where chosen families, led by a „mother“ or „father,“ offer a sense of belonging and support to their „children,“ who are often estranged from their biological families. The House of Dorothy thus becomes a space for the community, honoring queer genealogies past and present, and offering them shelter. 

With the support of the Fonds cantonal d’art contemporain, DCS, Geneva

Related events

04.04.2025

H19:00-22:30 / Each and every gesture
Screening, Reading & Listening curated by Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti and Barbara Casavecchia
For the second year, Istituto Svizzero and Mousse are collaborating on a project for Milano Art Week, interweaving curatorial and editorial practices. The title is taken from a text David Wojnarowic wrote in 1987 for an AIDS benefit by John Giorno Poetry Systems. It is an invitation to welcome shared gestures, to build safe spaces, to listen in order to weave new forms of collective memory.

Sala Meili, register here

H18:00-19:00 / Welcome to the House of Dorothy
The event Each and every gesture will be preceded, at H18:00, by a visit to the exhibition The House of Dorothy with artist Vincent Grange in dialogue with Head Curator Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti.

08.04.2025 

H12:30-H14:30 / Lunch break at The House of Dorothy
On the occasion of Milano Design Week, artist Vincent Grange and Head Curator Lucrezia Calabrò Visconti will guide the public through the rooms of The House of Dorothy. The House of Dorothy is an extension of the House of Switzerland, presented by Presence Switzerland and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.

Biography

Vincent Grange (1997, born in Geneva, lives and works in Geneva) explores and challenges the conventions of heteronormative society through the creation of alternative realities. His work, which includes unique architectures, artifacts, and machines, invites viewers to engage with and interpret each design choice, unraveling the often absurd narratives he weaves. After gaining his Master’s in Space and Communication at HEAD – Genève (Haute École d’Art et Design), Grange co-founded Collectif Kimera, which oversees Espace Dukat, a contemporary art space in Geneva. Additionally, he co-founded Souplex Atelier with his colleague and friend Tanguy Troubat, where he serves as a scenographer and art director. In 2023, he received the Déliée grant 2023 du Fonds Cantonal d’Art Contemporain. In 2024 he was one of the recipients of the Kiefer Hablitzel Göhner Prize at the Swiss Art Awards.