Yel K. Banto (*1998, Chile)
Yel K. Banto is an artist, choreographer, and performer living between Switzerland and the Netherlands. Their practice stands at the intersection of stage direction, choreography, performance, music, design, fine arts, and crafts. Their work is both sophisticated and playful, placing particular emphasis on sensory experience. Drawing inspiration from daily life, dreams, pop culture, medieval archives, mythology, and folklore, Yel creates narrative-driven works that explore themes of identity and marginalised histories. Their practice reflects a strong commitment to collaboration and to reimagining traditional art forms.
Yel is currently studying choreography at the School for New Dance Development (SNDO) in Amsterdam, and holds an academic background in Fine Arts from the University of Art and Design Geneva (HEAD) and the University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL). They have presented their work internationally through performances and installations, while also contributing as a curator and organiser for art spaces such as Espace Dukat in Geneva and Wunderkammer in Lausanne.
© Eli Pournin and Ilona Roux
(cropped image)
(cropped image)
Education
2024 - Ongoing
BA Choreography,
School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam (SNDO)
BA Choreography,
School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam (SNDO)
2020 - 2023
BA Fine Arts (with honours),
University of Art and Design of Geneva (HEAD)
2022
Exchange semester,
Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA)
2019 - 2020
Foundation year,
University of Art and Design of Lausanne (ECAL)
2016 - 2019
A - level in Fine Arts and Design (Fine Arts Award),
Gymnase Auguste Piccard, Lausanne
BA Fine Arts (with honours),
University of Art and Design of Geneva (HEAD)
2022
Exchange semester,
Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA)
2019 - 2020
Foundation year,
University of Art and Design of Lausanne (ECAL)
2016 - 2019
A - level in Fine Arts and Design (Fine Arts Award),
Gymnase Auguste Piccard, Lausanne
Awards
2019
Fine Arts Award, Gymnase Auguste Piccard, Lausanne
Fine Arts Award, Gymnase Auguste Piccard, Lausanne
Curation, lineup and art space management
2024
Performing arts lineup and production,
Wunderkammer, Lausanne
2023 - 2024
Co-founder and artist resident,
Espace Dukat, Geneva
2022
Curation of the exhibition Forbidden Fruit,
PS: Communitism, Athens
2018 - 2022
Music lineup and production assistant,
Collectif QULT, Le Romandie, Lausanne
Performing arts lineup and production,
Wunderkammer, Lausanne
2023 - 2024
Co-founder and artist resident,
Espace Dukat, Geneva
2022
Curation of the exhibition Forbidden Fruit,
PS: Communitism, Athens
2018 - 2022
Music lineup and production assistant,
Collectif QULT, Le Romandie, Lausanne
Experiences
2024
Production assistant, Bastien Gachet, Geneva
Production assistant, Bastien Gachet, Geneva
2024
Stage direction assistant, PRICE,
Gessnerallee Zürich, Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne,
Kunsthaus Pasquart Bienne.
2023
Stage direction assistant, Julie Monot,
Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
Stage direction assistant, PRICE,
Gessnerallee Zürich, Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne,
Kunsthaus Pasquart Bienne.
2023
Stage direction assistant, Julie Monot,
Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2019
Communication internship for Programme Commun,
Théâtre de Vidy, Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
Communication internship for Programme Commun,
Théâtre de Vidy, Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
2018
Light Design Internship, Cie Phillipe Saire,
Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
Light Design Internship, Cie Phillipe Saire,
Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
Workshops
2024
Dogo Residenz, Liechtensteig (90min.)
2024
Espace Dukat, Genève X L'Abri, Geneva (18hours)
2024
Espace Dukat, Genève X Théatre de St-Gervais, Geneva (4hours)
Dogo Residenz, Liechtensteig (90min.)
2024
Espace Dukat, Genève X L'Abri, Geneva (18hours)
2024
Espace Dukat, Genève X Théatre de St-Gervais, Geneva (4hours)
Residencies
2024
Théâtre de Sévelin 36, Lausanne (Creation - 4 weeks)
DOGO Residenz, St-Gallen (Research - 4 months)
Théâtre de Sévelin 36, Lausanne (Creation - 4 weeks)
DOGO Residenz, St-Gallen (Research - 4 months)
Choreography and stage direction
2024 - Ongoing
The fool's fugue,
Direction and performer: Yel K. Banto
Sound composition: Hugo Landage
Outside eye: Sonja Jokiniemi
Production: Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
2024 - Ongoing
L'âge de nos Idées,
The fool's fugue,
Direction and performer: Yel K. Banto
Sound composition: Hugo Landage
Outside eye: Sonja Jokiniemi
Production: Théâtre Sévelin 36, Lausanne
2024 - Ongoing
L'âge de nos Idées,
Invitation: Yan Duyvendak
Artistic contributors and performers: Yel K. Banto, Yan Duyvendak, Mia La-Brossard
Artistic consultant & dramaturgy: Clara Delorme, Antoine Weil
Assistant: Guillaumarc Froidevaux
Music & light design, technics: Luca Kasper
Screen dresses design: Safia Semlali
Creative production and tour management: Charlotte Terrapon
Co-production: by La Bâtie, Geneva / Grütli - Centre de production et de diffusion des arts vivants, Geneva / Festival de Marseilles / Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
Artistic contributors and performers: Yel K. Banto, Yan Duyvendak, Mia La-Brossard
Artistic consultant & dramaturgy: Clara Delorme, Antoine Weil
Assistant: Guillaumarc Froidevaux
Music & light design, technics: Luca Kasper
Screen dresses design: Safia Semlali
Creative production and tour management: Charlotte Terrapon
Co-production: by La Bâtie, Geneva / Grütli - Centre de production et de diffusion des arts vivants, Geneva / Festival de Marseilles / Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
Interpretation
2024
Killing Time,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2023
Rictus,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva / Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
Killing Time,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2023
Rictus,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva / Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2023
Room of Doubts,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2020 - 2022
Charivari,
Cie Mélanie Gobet, Fribourg
Co-production: L’Oriental, Vevey / Le Dansomètre, Vevey
Room of Doubts,
Julie Monot, Lausanne
Co-production: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Lausanne
2020 - 2022
Charivari,
Cie Mélanie Gobet, Fribourg
Co-production: L’Oriental, Vevey / Le Dansomètre, Vevey
Performances
2024
Fondation Francine Delacrétaz, Espace Arlaud, Lausanne
LiveInYourHead, Geneva (with Laurent Fiorentino)
Théâtre de l’Usine, Genève, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Friedengasse 1, Zurich
Fondation Francine Delacrétaz, Espace Arlaud, Lausanne
LiveInYourHead, Geneva (with Laurent Fiorentino)
Théâtre de l’Usine, Genève, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Friedengasse 1, Zurich
2023
One Gee in Fog, Geneva, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, HKB - Bern, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, édhéa - Sierre, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, HEAD - Geneva, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Art’s Birthday 2023, Les 6 Toîts, Geneva, (RTS Culture, Ensemble Contrechamps and HEAD - Geneva)
2022
Sofia Art Week, Doza Gallery, Sofia
The Big Simili Show, LiveInYourHead, Geneva, Commissioned by Tadeo Kohan and Gabrielle Boder
La Grange, Lausanne
One Gee in Fog, Geneva, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, HKB - Bern, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, édhéa - Sierre, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Festival ACT, HEAD - Geneva, (with Sébastien Roussi)
Art’s Birthday 2023, Les 6 Toîts, Geneva, (RTS Culture, Ensemble Contrechamps and HEAD - Geneva)
2022
Sofia Art Week, Doza Gallery, Sofia
The Big Simili Show, LiveInYourHead, Geneva, Commissioned by Tadeo Kohan and Gabrielle Boder
La Grange, Lausanne
2021
Performance festival, Atle Schreinerei, Bern, curated by Bacio Collective
Walking on Sunshine, Versoix, curated by Christophe Lovasoa Kauffmann
Performance festival, Atle Schreinerei, Bern, curated by Bacio Collective
Walking on Sunshine, Versoix, curated by Christophe Lovasoa Kauffmann
2020
Online performance, Valentin 61, Lausanne
La Placette, Lausanne
Online performance, Valentin 61, Lausanne
La Placette, Lausanne
2018 - 2020
Club sandwich, Queer parties organised by the Collectif QULT, Le Romandie, Lausanne
Club sandwich, Queer parties organised by the Collectif QULT, Le Romandie, Lausanne
2020
Lausanne Space Dance, Le Bourg, Lausanne
Lausanne Space Dance, Le Bourg, Lausanne
2019
Voodart, Centre Culturel des Amériques Latines, Lausanne
Fesse-tival, Genève
Traces de Passages, Lausanne
Théâtre de Beaulieu, Lausanne
Festival CMJN, Lausanne
Voodart, Centre Culturel des Amériques Latines, Lausanne
Fesse-tival, Genève
Traces de Passages, Lausanne
Théâtre de Beaulieu, Lausanne
Festival CMJN, Lausanne
2018
Quartier du Flon, Lausanne
Quartier du Flon, Lausanne
Solo exhibitions
2022
Fragmented Bodies, La Placette, Lausanne
Fragmented Bodies, La Placette, Lausanne
Collective exhibitions
2024
Fondation Francine Delacrétaz, Espace Arlaud, Lausanne
Dogo Totale, St-Gallen
Galerie Fabienne Levy, Lausanne
Espace Dukat, Geneva
Wallstreet, Fribourg
2023
Grand Tour, HEAD - Geneva
Aux Abris, Lausanne
Fondation Francine Delacrétaz, Espace Arlaud, Lausanne
Dogo Totale, St-Gallen
Galerie Fabienne Levy, Lausanne
Espace Dukat, Geneva
Wallstreet, Fribourg
2023
Grand Tour, HEAD - Geneva
Aux Abris, Lausanne
2022
La Grange édition n°4, Lausanne (Rueyres)
EMPATHY, with Hannah Doepke, Cantina Social, Athens
EMPATHY, with Hannah Doepke, Literature House, Athens
La Grange édition n°4, Lausanne (Rueyres)
EMPATHY, with Hannah Doepke, Cantina Social, Athens
EMPATHY, with Hannah Doepke, Literature House, Athens
2021
Tore del Forni, Balerna, Curated by Associazione +41
Tore del Forni, Balerna, Curated by Associazione +41
2020
Exhibition in a flat, Lausanne
La Grange édition n°2, Lausanne (Rueyres)
Galerie l’Elac, Lausanne
Exhibition in a flat, Lausanne
La Grange édition n°2, Lausanne (Rueyres)
Galerie l’Elac, Lausanne
2019
Centre Culturel des Amériques Latines, Lausanne
Traces de Passages, Lausanne
Electrosanne, Lausanne
Théâtre de Sévelin 36, Lausanne
Ville de Vevey, (with Maelle Amiet)
Festival Animai, Vevey
Centre Culturel des Amériques Latines, Lausanne
Traces de Passages, Lausanne
Electrosanne, Lausanne
Théâtre de Sévelin 36, Lausanne
Ville de Vevey, (with Maelle Amiet)
Festival Animai, Vevey
2018
Espace Dem’Art, Lausanne
Quartier du Flon, Lausanne
Festival Animai, Vevey
Espace Dem’Art, Lausanne
Quartier du Flon, Lausanne
Festival Animai, Vevey