message salon is the art project and artwork of Esther Eppstein, since 1996.
The salon, the bringing together of different people from all directions and disciplines in the context of art, the creation of space, platform, the setting, the scenography and finally the ongoing documentation of the occurrence, is the art of Esther Eppstein.

message salon, 1996
On 4 April 1996, Esther Eppstein opened the art space ‘message salon’ on Ankerstrasse in Zurich’s Aussersihl district. Over the following years, and without interruption, it became an important meeting place and an influential experimental platform for the Zurich art scene at various locations – most recently at the Kunsthaus Perla-Mode on Langstrasse, where it remained until December 2013.

message salon embassy, since 2015
After taking a break in Tel Aviv, Esther Eppstein aka Madame l’Ambassadeur expanded her art project in 2015 into the message salon embassy, a nomadic artist-run artist residency.
Madame l’Ambassadeur takes the artists in residence she invites on an expedition into the Zurich art scene, creating friendships and networks. message salon embassy publishes a ‘zine’ with the artists in residence – a limited edition publication that is presented as part of a public event.

Awards and honours
Esther Eppstein has been honoured several times for her artistic and mediating work.
A selection: Art Grant City of Zurich, 1999 and 2011; Swiss Art Award BAK; Visarte Award for Art Education, 2009; Omanut-Zwillenberg-Förderpreis, 2012; Förderpreis Canton of Zurich, 2014; Swiss Grand Prix Art/Meret Oppenheim, 2021; Recognition Award UBS Cultural Foundation, 2023.

Publication
“message salon Ankerstrasse”, book and VHS tape in cardboard slipcase. Idea and concept by Esther Eppstein and Alexis Saile. With texts by Peter Weber, Simon Maurer, Pipilotti Rist, Laurent Goei and more; Photography Manuela Ledermann; Video Esther Eppstein, sounds Stini Arn; Graphics Alexis Saile. Andreas Züst Verlag, co Scalo Verlag, Zurich 1998.
“Esther Eppstein message salon” , published by Nadine Olonetzky; Idea, concept, photography by Esther Eppstein; Texts by Nadine Olonetzky and Kerim Seiler; Design by Benjamin Sommerhalder; Cover design by Alexis Saile. Scheidegger and Spiess, Zurich, 2016.

Purchases
Works by Esther Eppstein/message salon are in the collections of Kunsthaus Zürich and Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zurich.

Contact
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