In a shop in a shopping street, Marleine Chedraoui presented the work ars vivendi. The project, which the artist developed in 2024, is based on a contract that interested parties can sign with her. On August 8, 2024, it was activated by the signing of the first contract. 

In it, Chedraoui undertakes to write ‘Ich arbeite heute.’ (I am working today) on a piece of paper on the days she works and to add the date; to photograph this piece of paper and send it digitally to the contractual partners; and, at the end of each year, to note the days on which she did so on a calendar page. Finally, she undertakes to ensure that the contracting parties receive a note after the artist's death on which Chedraoui has previously written the title of the work ‘ars vivendi’ and their respective name. The date of her death will be entered posthumously. The contractual partners, on the other hand, commit to making a monthly payment of a freely selectable amount, which they can change at any time. The obligations of the artist remain unchanged. The term of the agreement ends upon her death. 

In the exhibition, the contract, the pieces of paper that have been created since the work was activated were presented and the artist continued to perform the actions. Meanwhile, the installation grew with the pieces of paper that were created during the runtime.

The May 2025 issue of ‘Bulletin Kunst & Recht’ featured an article on ars vivendi written by Prof. em. Dr. Thomas Dreier, M.C.J. (New York University) Distinguished KIT Senior Fellow, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Please click here to access the article.

ars vivendi, 2024 –
8 May – 1 June 2025

Karlstraße 35
76133 Karlsruhe

Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm
and by appointment: 
+49 176 81173591 or by e-mail: kontakt@marleine-chedraoui.de
8 – 9 and 21 May 2025 6 pm – 9 pm​

EXTENDED until 30 June, 8 August, 2025
ONLY by appointment: 
+49 176 81173591 or by e-mail: kontakt@marleine-chedraoui.de