Some Swiss companies and private individuals took part in the transatlantic slave trade and earned a fortune from the trade in colonial goods and exploitation of slave labour.
Swiss men and women travelled the globe as missionaries.
Other Swiss, driven by poverty or a thirst for adventure, served as mercenaries in European armies sent to conquer colonial territory or crush uprisings by the indigenous population.
Swiss experts also placed their knowledge at the disposal of the colonial powers. And the racial theories prevalent at the time, which were used to justify the colonial system, formed part of the curriculum at the universities of Zurich and Geneva.
The exhibition at the National Museum Zurich ended on 19 January 2025 but will be on display in an adapted form at the Château de Prangins from 27 March 2026 to 11 October 2026.
Comment ArtDaily:
- Rather than offering definitive answers, Colonialism: Switzerland involved creates a space for reflection. Visitors are encouraged to question inherited narratives, reconsider familiar histories, and share their own perspectives.
- By bringing together historical artifacts, contemporary artworks, and critical scholarship, the exhibition succeeds in making a complex subject accessible without simplifying its implications.
