Zurich
Manuscrit, non publié à l’époque. Seul le prononcé fait foi. Les notes de travail ont été retirées.
Discours prononcé en anglais. Texte original, non traduit.
Madam Ambassador of the Netherlands
Dear Councillors of the Canton of Zurich
Dear Mayor of Zurich
Ladies and gentlemen
WHAT PEOPLE DO FOR MONEY
This is the slogan of the EURO 2016 starting today in France…
Seriously: It is the theme of Manifesta 11.
Manifesta 11 will explore the meaning of work and the importance of work in our lives.
It will examine how we change the world through our work and how work itself changes us.
Thirty international artists have sought to provide answers to these questions by producing projects with working professionals from Zurich from a wide range of fields.
The 30 collaborations provide a fresh look at supposedly familiar issues.
This collaborative approach comes across as playful, but is all the more relevant for society.
Given what we know about the fourth industrial revolution so far, only one thing is clear: creativity will become a core competency.
It is high time that we as a society begin to engage in this debate.
I have a strong personal affinity for these joint ventures where art and different professions come together.
After all I run a similar type of joint venture.
With myself, as it were:
I am responsible for both the Federal Office of Culture and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.
This is why I am particularly excited about the collaboration between Belgian artist Guillaume Bijl and Jacqueline Meier, who is a dog stylist at the dog grooming salon Dolly.
I am also intrigued by a joint venture where art meets medicine – namely the medical Odyssey by Michel Houellebecq and Dr Henry Perschak, Specialist for General Internal Medicine at the Hirslanden Clinic.
The willingness of so many working professionals to take part in an artistic experiment is worthy of applause.
This also goes for the joint effort by so many institutions – from Zurich University of the Arts to several museums, as well as the University and the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Sincere thanks also go to the city of Zurich and to the founder and director of Manifesta, Hedwig Fijen.
And especially to the curator of this Manifesta, Christian Jankowski.
Ladies and gentlemen
Switzerland, work and money: that’s a close relationship…
Long ago, when Switzerland exported mercenaries instead of pharmaceuticals, people used to say: No money, no Swiss.
And the Swiss work ethic is also well known.
Drilling a 57km-long tunnel and finishing AHEAD OF SCHEDULE is proof of a passionate work ethic.
The Swiss also rejected an initiative for six weeks’ holiday a few years ago.
You may remember that people abroad couldn’t understand it.
The French daily ‘Le Parisien’ wrote: “The outcome of the vote is incomprehensible to the French people.”
And, a widely read German newspaper saw the Swiss decision as a form of neurosis, stating “the Swiss are afraid of more holidays.”
Just in time for the start of Manifesta, we have held another vote, this time on an unconditional basic income …
So Switzerland has actually been discussing the question of ‘WHAT PEOPLE DO FOR MONEY’ for weeks ahead of this exhibition.
For those of you not from Switzerland: the proposal for an unconditional basic income was rejected five days ago.
As you can see, not only Zurich, but the whole of Switzerland has become part of Manifesta as it were.
After all, that has always been the underlying idea of Manifesta:
to reach out to an audience not traditionally interested in art.
to break out of the insider art scene.
The idea of Manifesta 11 is to achieve cultural participation.
Cultural participation is also one of the main aims of the Federal Council’s culture policy.
The active and passive participation by as many people as possible in cultural life counteracts ideological polarization.
And this is an appropriate response to the challenges of an increasingly multicultural society.
Ladies and gentlemen
Manifesta is one of the most important platforms for contemporary art worldwide.
From its inception, Manifesta has given significant impetus to local and national institutions and artists.
International exchanges are essential to enhance the standing and reach of Switzerland’s arts scene.
I wish you all an inspiring Manifesta!
Thank you very much.