National museum highlights life as a refugee

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The video installation by Mano Khalil, himself a former refugee, at the beginning of the exhibition is an impressive way-in to the theme of fleeing. (Swiss National Museum) Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

A refugee boat off Lesbos. (UNHCR/Ivor Prickett) Ivor Prickett/UNHCR

From 12 objects visitors must choose four that they would take with them when fleeing. (Swiss National Museum) Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

Makeshift camp of internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia. (SDC) DEZA

Two-thirds of the 65 million refugees worldwide are refugees within their own country. More than 80% of the rest are in neighbouring countries. Fictitious people tell us their stories. (Swiss National Museum) Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

Syrian refugees at the Turkish border. (Bulent Klic/AFP) Bulent Klic/AFP

Fleeing has different faces. Five fictitious people tell how they did it. (Swiss National Museum) Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

Makeshift camp of internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia. (SDC) DEZA

The asylum centre is home to people with different cultural backgrounds. (Swiss National Museum) Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

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Various Swiss offices have joined forces to present an exhibition at Switzerland’s national museum in Zurich to showcase the plight of refugees worldwide.

“Displaced”, which runs from the end of October to March next year, provides a glimpse into life as a refugee. According to the organisers, the show addresses the issue from different perspectives.
 
“What is it like to risk a long and dangerous journey and arrive at a place where no one is waiting for you, where you don’t speak the language and where you feel you don’t belong? But a place, in which you have nevertheless invested all your hope.”
 
These questions are answered through “illustrative biographies” that follow displaced people on their risky and dangerous journeys.
 
The exhibition also aims to educate visitors about Switzerland’s asylum policy and international aid.
 
“Displaced” is a joint project by the Federal Commission on Migration (FCM), the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).