In collaboration with leading cultural institutions such as Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Swatch Art Peace Hotel, BY ART MATTERS RESIDENCY 天目里美术馆驻留中心 and Winland Blanc de Chine, the Swiss Art Pool project provided a unique platform for the exhibiting artists to explore China through research trips and residencies and create their work in a dynamic and multicultural environment. This opens a new pathway for Swiss artists to China as they can better understand the Chinese culture and establish connections. Also, the event allowed deepening ties with long-time collaborators such as Galerie Urs Meile.
The Swiss Art Pool project invited Chinese curator Shen Chen to join its first edition. It presented a diverse selection of Swiss artworks, spanning various styles and mediums, including painting, sculpture, installation, and video works. The focus was on showcasing the vibrant and innovative contemporary art scene in Switzerland, and highlighting the country's strong reputation as a hub for artistic excellence, promoting cultural exchanges while fostering new connections between both countries.
The exhibition, “So Far, So Close,” drew inspiration from two novels by the prominent Swiss writer Max Frisch: Bin, or the Trip to Beijing (published in 1945) and Man Appears in the Holocene (published in 1979). It intertwined the themes of these novels, exploring how individuals navigate their inner desires for distant destinations and engage with the immediate world around them. The Swiss artists traveling to China, along with the pool house at the Swiss Embassy in Beijing, further extended the exhibition's theme by offering a multilayered spatio-temporal context. Building on this foundation, the artists responded to the exhibition’s theme through their works, addressing various topics such as cultures, economics, ecology, psychology, etc.
Delli Chantal, Minister & Deputy Head of Mission of the Swiss embassy was present at the opening and delivered the opening speech, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition. Attendees had the chance to engage with the artists, learn about their creative processes, and discover the inspiration behind their works.
“Switzerland has a rich and vibrant art scene, and we're proud to be a part of it. There is virtually no other country with as many museums per head of the population as us,” said Ms. Delli. “We are thrilled to bring this project to China. Our goal is to connect Swiss artists directly with galleries, museums, and other cultural institutions in China, thus facilitating the birth of new ideas and collaborations.”
The Swiss Art Pool project is part of the Swiss Embassy's ongoing efforts to promote bilateral cultural exchange. With the spotlight on ‘Swiss contemporary art’, it is part of the embassy’s public diplomacy campaign 2024-2025, with a focus on the Economy in 2024 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the entry of force of the Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement and will culminate in the 75th anniversary next year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China.
The art exhibition will be open to the public during the weekend of October 19th and 20th at the Swiss embassy. Follow our social media channels for registration details.
