Tell
Benedikt Meyer
24. June 2019
Mit Friedrich Schillers Theaterstück wurde Willhelm Tell zum Weltstar. Der grösste Vorteil: Der Schweizer Held konnte je nach eigenem Bedarf eingesetzt werden.
Exhibition | accessibility.time_to
Everything’s a bit better in Switzerland – it’s a sentiment you occasionally hear expressed both here and abroad. But among those who actually live in Switzerland, the feeling of being ‘something special’ alternates with a latent sense of inferiority. A paradox? On closer inspection, other contradictions emerge: Is Switzerland a humanitarian model state, or a bastion of egoists closed off from the world? Is it an alpine utopia of democracy, or a profiteer nation ruled by greedy banks and large corporations? The exhibition explores some divergent views of Switzerland and aims to prompt visitors to reflect on our country’s self-image, and how it is perceived from the outside.
You can get a souvenir of the exhibition in the boutique of the National Museum Zurich. You can also buy selected products online.
Please visit our online boutique
Access without ticket
openinghours.days.long.tuesday Open till openinghours.days.long.wednesday openinghours.openfromto.long
openinghours.days.long.thursday openinghours.openfromto.long
openinghours.days.long.friday Open till openinghours.days.long.sunday openinghours.openfromto.long
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.