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  • Long Night of the Museums 06.09.2025 10:00 - 17:00
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  • Long Night of the Museums 07.09.2025 0:00 - 2:00
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  • Knabenschiessen 15.09.2025 closed

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  • 22.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • 23.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • Christmas Eve 24.12.2025 10:00 - 14:00

  • Christmas 25.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • St. Stephen´s Day 26.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • 27.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • 28.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • 29.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • 30.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • New Year´s Eve 31.12.2025 10:00 - 17:00

  • New Year´s Day 01.01.2026 10:00 - 19:00

  • Saint Berchtold 02.01.2026 10:00 - 17:00

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Amazingly ambivalent

National Museum Zurich | 4.2.2022 - 24.4.2022
published on 2.2.2022

What is Switzerland? What makes the Swiss tick? Where is our place on the world map? A new exhibition explores how we in Switzerland see ourselves, and how others see us. The exhibition brings us face to face with some divergent views, and aims to prompt visitors to self-reflect.

Switzerland is often described as a perfect country: breath-taking scenery, sparkling clean cities and a highly efficient infrastructure. Food and water shortages? We Swiss only know about those things from the news. Political upheavals happen elsewhere, and humanitarian involvement and “good deeds” are part of Switzerland’s self-image. A little paradise in the middle of Europe.

Or is it? On closer inspection, contradictions emerge. What about all the suspicious people checking up on each other? And what place do the greedy bankers have in paradise? Does the picturesque landscape rob people of their sense of humour? And why does no one want to stand out here, to draw attention to themselves?

So what is it, our little Switzerland? Idyllic paradise, or staid backwater of provincial attitudes? A nation open to the world and all it holds, or a stronghold of conservativism? This question isn’t so easy to answer. It depends not only on the perspective, but also on who’s answering. In addition, there are often a number of facets that may be diametrically opposed. Switzerland is full of bewildering contrasts.

The exhibition “Amazingly ambivalent” examines some of the views held by insiders, and those on the outside, and uncovers contradictory aspects of Switzerland. It aims to encourage visitors to reflect on themselves and their relationship with Switzerland.

Documents

Images

The mountains as a focus of longing | © Swiss National Museum
The mountains as a focus of longing

Heidi is the most successful Swiss book of all time. The grandfather’s Alp and Heidi herself became embodiments of Switzerland and helped to shape the mythos of Switzerland as a country where people live innocent lives in the healthy alpine air. Johanna Spyri (1827–1901), Heidi. Band I: Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre, 1950 edition.

Swiss National Museum

Europe’s Heart of Darkness | © Swiss National Museum
Europe’s Heart of Darkness

In 2007, the British newspaper The Independent reported about the deportation initiative and xenophobia in Switzerland, saying that Switzerland was no longer a haven of peace and neutrality, but rather the home of a new extremism. The Independent, 7 September 2007.

Swiss National Museum

The Good Offices of neutral Switzerland | © Swiss National Museum
The Good Offices of neutral Switzerland

Many Swiss are proud of Switzerland’s “Good Offices”, which contribute to the country’s positive self-image. An example: since 1953, Switzerland has been monitoring the cease-fire between North and South Korea. The shoes worn by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey in 2003 while crossing the demarcation line between North and South Korea.

Swiss National Museum

The gnomes of Zurich | © Swiss National Museum
The gnomes of Zurich

The gnomes of Zurich is a colloquial synonym for Swiss bankers that has been in use since the 1960s. T. R. Fehrenbach, The Gnomes of Zurich, 1966.

Swiss National Museum

© © Caspar Frei, 1990

“Chuchichäschtli”, or “I just can’t cope with Swiss culture”.

© Caspar Frei, 1990

© © Chappatte, Le Temps, Suisse, www.chappatte.com

When I type “Swiss neutrality”, the encryption device writes this: Bullshit.

© Chappatte, Le Temps, Suisse, www.chappatte.com

© © Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition.

© Swiss National Museum

© © Swiss National Museum

A view of the exhibition.

© Swiss National Museum

© Swiss National Museum

Exhibition poster without logo

Swiss National Museum

Please note that the downloading and use of images is reserved exclusively for journalists, teachers and other authorised parties. Images are only permitted to be used for the purposes of reporting on exhibitions, provided the captions and reference to copyright are included, or for teaching purposes. Many thanks!

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National Museum Zurich
+41 44 218 65 64 medien@nationalmuseum.ch