A train ride through Swiss clichés
Strangers in Paradise makes it possible to experience how great the cultural and social diversity of Switzerland is. On the entertaining ride through an imaginary Switzerland, visitors can check their personal image of Switzerland.
Anyone who wants to experience and understand Switzerland must want to experience and understand diversity - the diversity of languages, of regions, of cultural differences. Diversity is the real wealth of the country. Diversity manifests itself in ideas about Switzerland, in myths and legends, in clichés and enemy images, in longings and hopes that we share or dispute.
The images in Strangers in Paradise complement or contradict each other, challenge, surprise or amuse. In this way, everyone can examine their own image of Switzerland. Anyone who wants to can create a new one. Because everyone has the right to their own image of Switzerland.
Like when you were a child
In Strangers in Paradise, visitors sit in system-controlled shopping trolleys. They glide through a three-storey building for eleven minutes. Audio-visual means, sound installations, special effects and objects are used to create the rooms. The exhibition invites visitors to experience Switzerland with the openness and playfulness of a child. Just like when you sat in your shopping trolley and the consumer paradise passed you by.
Swiss happiness
Strangers in Paradise, for example, shows an image of Switzerland that is suitable for the majority in a supermarket of ideals. In large showcases, the luck of the Swiss is presented: a lush, lifelike cow, a stable political system, shiny gold bars. At the same time, the room reveals a flaw: this is not the whole of Switzerland. Below lies the counter-world, a space staged as an underground car park. Here, those repressed images that do not fit into the comfortable clichés find their place.
But Switzerland also takes place in the mountains - the place that captures the most native dreams. When images of street fights appear in the fog, marking the end of tolerance and consensus. When Heidi sleeps on an artificially created mountain meadow. Or when a swinging duel is interpreted as a symbol of the perpetual clash of opinions.
Arteplage
Biel-Bienne
Visitor capacity per day
5'775
Total visitors
850'400
Partner
The Federation of Migros Cooperatives, Zurich www.migros.ch
Project Management the Federation of Migros Cooperatives
Jana Caniga
Project management and direction
Christoph Stratenwerth
Authors
Meret Ernst, Michel Schaltenbrand, Christoph Stratenwerth
Scenography
Michel Schaltenbrand, Zurich www.schaltenbrand.ch
Contents
Meret Ernst
Architecture
GFA Gruppe für Architektur GmbH (Ingrid Burgdorf, Barbara Burren), Zurich www.g-f-a.ch
Collaboration architecture
Lars Kundert, Tobias Vetter
Coordination and execution
BGS & Partner Architekten AG (Heinz Gmür), Rapperswil-Jona www.bgs-architekten.ch
Railway development and production
Swisslog Translift AG (deleted), Kriens
Project management railway
Stefan Felder
Equipment management
Blendwerk (Dominic Huber, Kerstin Budde), Zurich www.blendwerk.ch
Music and sound
Knut Jensen
Lighting
Frank Hinzmann
Costumes staff
Elisabeth Schubiger
Figures
Anne-Rose Schwab
Collaboration figures
Irène Strobl, Jakob Walter Peier, Gerlinde Irmann (costumes)
Video films
Point de Vue (Reinhard Manz, Arthur Manz, Franz Schnyder), Basel www.pointdevue.ch
Video technology
iArt AG (Valentin Spiess, Hanspeter Giuliani, Claude Hidber, Walter Seiler), Basel www.iart.ch
Sound technology
Greenwood Studios (new: G-Studios AG) (Glenn Mueller, Ron Kurz, René Lafferma), Nunningen www.greenwood-studios.com
Production assistance exhibition
Anne Wauschkuhn
Assistance exhibition design
Vanessa Belz, Chantal Kull
Exhibition realisation
Installation management
Frank Hinzmann
Technicians
Amir, Asady, Christoph Grüning, Michel Jann, Maria Manzolini, Jürgen Schmid, Thomas Kohler
Wood and steel construction
Cara Industriesysteme, Moosbach, Austria www.cara.at
Polyester bubble
Klarer Freizeitanlagen AG, Hallau www.klarer.com
Decorative work
SLS Illusion+Construktion GmbH (Vanessa Belz, Mischa Kaufmann, Gary Stern, Martin Stutz), Schwerzenbach www.slsillusion.ch
Styrofoam work
Formwerk AG (Beat Fässler), Zurich
Artificial ice
Georg Bringolf, Kati Perriard
Wood carvings
Josef Schibig, Steinen www.sculptor.ch
Flower meadow
Sämereien-Zentrum Niderfeld (Christian Burri, Johannes Burri), Winterthur
Model construction of single-family houses
Kamm Modellbau (Thomas Kamm, Aldo Hanhart), Walenstadt
Animation hedgehogs, uniforms
Multiidee, Zelhem (Pieter W. Oostra), Netherlands
Animal preparator
Hans-Peter Walther
Animation cow
Cornelius de Fries, Urs Schröttenthaler
Glass construction
Mäder AG, Zurich www.glas-maeder.ch
Doors
Schneebeli Metallbau AG, Zurich www.schneebeli.com
Door automation
Tormax Landert-Motoren AG (new: Landert Group AG), Bülach www.landert.com
Sheet metal
Ediltecnica AG, Schönbühl www.ediltecnica.ch
Floors
Walo Bertschinger AG Bern, Gümligen www.walo.ch
Tiler
Urs Lüthi, Nidau
Painting
Malerei Stadelmann AG, Biel-Bienne www.stadelmannag.ch
Curtains, curtain technology
Gerriets GmbH (Hannes Gerriets, Artur Munz) Umkirch, Deutschland www.gerriets.com
Construction video tree
Motorsänger GmbH (Fabio Guidi, Urs Wiskemann) Männedorf www.motorsaenger.ch
Construction building
Construction management Biel-Bienne
Marcel Känzig
Advice hydraulic engineering
Andreas Huber
Safety consulting
Stefan Kiefer, Berlin, Germany
Structural engineer
Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer AG (Dr. Paul Lüchinger), Zurich www.luechingermeyer.ch
Specialist planner building physics, acoustics
Wichser Akustik & Bauphysik AG (Hans Wichser), Zurich www.wichser.ch
Specialist planner for electrical and plumbing systems
Amstein + Walthert Bern AG (Markus Hubli, Bernhard Sommer, Mario Imboden), Berne www.anstein-walthert.ch
Specialist planner for HVAC
Waldhauser Haustechnik AG (new: Waldhauser + Hermann AG (Werner Waldhauser, Rony Classen), Münchenstein www.waldhauser-hermann.ch
Specialist planner facade
Mebatech AG (Jan Zaba), Baden www.mebatech.ch
Impalement
Trabat AG (deleted), Biel-Bienne
Construction work
Hirt AG (deleted), Biel-Bienne
Scaffolding
Menz Gerüste AG, Wangen a.A. www.menz.ch
Concrete prefabrication
Wey Elementbau AG (deleted), Villmergen
Steel construction
Heinz Freitag AG, Kerzers www.heinz-freitag-ag.ch
Roofing, plumbers
Hadorn Bedachungen AG, Biel-Bienne www.hadorn-bedachung.ch
Electrical work
JAG Jakob Installationen AG (new: Etavis JAG Jakob AG), Biel-Bienne www.etavis.ch
Ventilation system
Racine + Berger Klima AG (new: Berger Klima AG), Biel-Bienne www.bergerklimabiel.ch
Sanitary installation
Pärli Sanitär AG (new: Pärli AG, Biel-Bienne www.paerli.ch
Doors in metal
Eisenring AG (new: Elkuch Eisenring AG), Jonschwil www.elkuch.com
Locksmith work
Wüthrich Metallbau AG, Biel-Bienne
Plaster work
Egli AG, Bellmund www.groupe-egli.ch
Facade
Ediltecnica AG, Schönbühl www.ediltecnica.ch
Lifting platform
Alimak GmbH, Mühlheim-Kärlich, Germany www.alimakgroup.com
Fire dampers
Bator AG, Herzogenbuchsee www.bator.com
Staircase system
Goma Matter AG, Rümlang www.goma.ch
Coaching Expo.02
Pidu Russek (Head)
Karin Hilzinger
Operations Management
Manfred Ellenberger (Pavilion Manager)
Ariane Lang (Communications Manager)
Konrad Habegger (Human Resources Pavilion)
Guides
Diana Meier
Photos: Press kit Strangers in Paradise; © Schaltenbrand; © Jürg Frei; © Andreas Mosimann; © Simon Richard; © Philipp Zanatta
