Agenda

The twofold-exhibition (Zeitzeuge und Pioniere der Mundartdichtung) presents the travelling exhibition ‘Schweizerreise – Johann Peter Hebel as Aufklärer’ (Journey through Switzerland – Johann Peter Hebel as a philosopher of the Enlightenment) of the Dreiländermuseum and the Hebelbund in Lörrach (Germany), and a selection of manuscripts, letters and drawings from the legacy of the poet-priest and Hebel admirer Jonas Breitenstein (1828-1877) from the canton of Basel-Landschaft. Johann Peter Hebel (1760-1826) travelled through Switzerland in 1805 and recorded his observations in a travel diary. His notes offer a remarkable insight into a time when Napoleon also ruled Switzerland. Jonas Breitenstein is considered one of the most influential authors of his canton. He was the first to publish in the Baselbieter dialect. The exhibition offers uncommon and good insight into this period of the nineteenth century.

The Museum stages an exhibition on 19th-century orientalist photography. At that time, foreign travel to the Middle East experienced a boom. Some of the classic stopovers on these tours were Athens, Beirut, Damascus, Jerusalem and Constantinople. The popularity of this type of travel was enhanced further by the then still relatively new technology of photography, which increased the allure of such journeys for those who had stayed at home. The selection of photographs from the Ruth and Peter Herzog collection on display is a series of historically important works. Special focus is on archaeological sites in the Middle East.

In the 20th century, Swiss designers and producers had a clear idea of the perfect furnishing. Initially, the abstract form was a theme. Flexible tubular steel furniture was developed in the 1930s, while the unity of elegant form and function was propagated mid-century. Around 1968, everyday culture and Pop Art conquered the living room. A decade later, the postmodern diversity of styles was celebrated until the minimalist tradition was rediscovered at the end of the century. Seven sample rooms (Ideales Wohnen), furnished with gems of the museum collection, present the most important trends in modern Swiss furniture design.

The exhibition pays tribute to Hans Josephsohn (1920-2012) on the occasion of the centenary of his birth. It focuses on a series of brass sculptures made between 1950 and 2006. These works exemplify the central role played by the human figure in Josephsohn’s art and document all the types that the artist himself used to classify his work: standing, seated and reclining figures, half-figures and reliefs. His works are on permanent display at the Museo La Congiunta in Giornico, inaugurated in 1992, and at the Kesselhaus Josephsohn in St Gallen, opened in 2003.

Although cacao comes fromfar-away countries, chocolate has established itself as a symbol of Switzerland.  The firm Suchard, founded in Neuchâtel in 1826, played a leading role in this development. The exhibition offers a panorama of the company’s advertising campaigns from the middle of the 19th century onwards. These are often works of art in themselves, some with a size of 4.5 metres. The exhibition also deals with the chocolate world celebrities Milka-koe, the Suchard Express or the Toblerone.

The exhibition introduces viewers to Chinese landscape painting, discloses its many meanings, and reveals its hidden messages. It provides insight into China’s culture, philosophy, and literature, while at the same time addressing the relationship between humankind and nature. The dialogue between past and present reveals surprising links, but also ruptures and conflicts. The exhibition juxtaposes historical masterpieces with landscape representations by modern and contemporary artists. The show presents ninety works from six centuries, including paintings, installations, and video works.

The exhibition (until 18 October) was created in close collaboration with the English artist couple Gilbert & George. The show focuses on their work from 2008 to 2016. The exhibition of sixty works has been set up specifically for these museum rooms on the basis of themes and stylistic characteristics. The performances with their bright colours and mirrored symmetry transform the museum hall into a large fresco.

Isa Genzken (1948) is recognized as one of the most important living artists. Her oeuvre straddles the boundaries of disciplines such as sculpture, installation, architecture, photography, film, and painting. The exhibition (Isa Genzken – Works from 1973-1983) turns the spotlight on the creative practice that she devised in the first decade of her career and her output between 1973 and 1983. It was during this time that she created the “Ellipsoids” and “Hyperbolos”; the largest-ever gathering of works from these sculptural series will be center stage in our exhibition. A second focus will be on her Genzken’s computer printouts on continuous paper, some in very large formats. They will be complemented by several graphic series.

It is about 40 years ago that pioneers in Switzerland imported snowboards from America and tried them out. The former outsiders, who at that time were not allowed on the slopes, are now even taking part in the Olympics or descending the steepest slopes. The exhibition provides an overview of this youth and sports movement from its beginnings to the present day, from its origins in America to today’s snowboard centre in Flims-Laax.

Taro Izumi (1976) has developed a unique creative universe. Sculpture, installation, performance and video are closely interwoven.The materials used lead to meticulously assembled constructions. This process is the result of the use of advanced technology and thorough reflection, energy and application. Each work in the current exhibition (Taro Izumi. ex) has a role to play. The works in the exhibition have been specially created by the artist on the basis of the museum’s space and current cultural, social and sanitary questions, such as Covid 19.