Discover Germany | Special Theme | Switzerland’s Finest Art and Culture
Special Theme
Finest Art and Culture Switzerland
Main image: Fondation Beyeler. Photo: © Switzerland Tourism/ Stephan Schacher Above: Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern. Photo: © Switzerland Tourism/ Stephan Schacher Left: Heidi-Weber-Haus in Zurich designed by Le Corbusier. Photo: © Switzerland Tourism/ Christof Schuerpf Middle: Sculpture Ouverture Au Monde by Angel Duarte. Photo: © Switzerland Tourism, Christof Schuerpf
Discovering the arts in Switzerland Switzerland has much more to offer than the Alps, cheese and Swiss chocolate icons like Toblerone. It is a paradise for artists as well as art lovers. Paintings, architecture, literature, music or design – the country’s art scene combines different backgrounds and cultural influences. The cities of Switzerland are home to numerous museums, galleries and theatres showcasing fine art and culture.
a large amount of his work and is a must for all art lovers. Furthermore, the Kunsthaus Zurich shows other important collections: old masters, impressionists and expressionists or works of the Dada movement.
TEXT: MONIQUE AMEND
The country represents so many different cultures and influences that typical Swiss art does not really exist. Switzerland is characterised by German, French and Italian influences and by the people coming from all over the world who found a home here. This makes it a paradise for art lovers because various personalities and customs come together here, interact and create something new. The Swiss cities are birthplaces and places of activity to numerous artists whose works can still be found here such as Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Le Corbusier, Ferdinand Hodler and Alberto Giacometti. The literature and film scene has become 38 | Issue 42 | September 2016
more and more international and Swiss documentaries are regular contributions at festivals like Cannes and Berlin. That Switzerland is a country of collectors can be seen in the vast amount of museums, galleries, auctions and fairs. There is no other country with as many museums per head of the population as Switzerland. The Zentrum Paul Klee is dedicated to one of the icons of modern European art. Growing up in Switzerland, Paul Klee spent many years in Germany where he lectured at the famous Bauhaus, but came back to Switzerland in the 1930s. The centre, located in Bern, showcases
The Swiss design and architecture scene is also responsible for quite a few world icons. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris – better known as Le Corbusier – was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Jura. He is most famous for his functionalist architecture and his contribution to town planning. One of his designs has been restored in his hometown but others are spread around the world. The Tate Modern art gallery in London and the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games were created by the Basel-based architects Herzog & de Meuron. All of these great creators represent Switzerland’s finest art and culture.