Sometimes objects fail to tell the full story behind formative developments in Switzerland’s recent past. The ‘Experiences of Switzerland‘ format focuses on contemporary witnesses. Their fates and experiences, which in most cases are not found in any archives or records, provide visitors with a multifaceted and emotional insight into Swiss history.
Featuring a different topic each year, the format does away with exhibits and instead presents a large-format, immersive projection with sound delivered through headphones. Meanwhile, an exploration station features information on the latest research findings in the area and places the topic in its cultural-historical context.
Hydropower in the Alps and its Impact
The 1950s saw a sharp rise in electricity demand, including in Switzerland. Dams started to be built in the Alps on a grand scale. Once-in-a-generation projects, such as the Grande Dixence dam, as well as the flooding of the village of Marmorera in 1954 and the Mattmark disaster in 1965, fundamentally changed the lives of people in the Alpine regions.
The video installation examines the economic momentum, recalls the political disputes, and addresses the logistical challenges. Contemporary witnesses describe their experiences with hydropower in the Alps, from the incredible feats of engineering to the harsh working conditions on construction sites.
They describe the expansion of the infrastructure and its impact on the world they lived in. And they look back at the resistance movement that developed against resettlement and at the calls for environmental protection.