Agenda

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.