Cluster: Swiss Identity

Guatemala police chief faces Geneva court

This content was published on May 15, 2014 Sperisen allegedly asked his subordinates to make it seem as though ten detainees had clashed with police in three separate incidents before they were shot. According to the Geneva prosecutor’s office, Sperisen, because of his rank, played a decisive role in the killings. In one case, he allegedly carried out one of the executions himself.…

Culture

Blue diamond sold for CHF21.4 million

This content was published on May 15, 2014 The seller of the flawless pear-shaped gem, known simply as “The Blue”, wished to remain anonymous. Swatch had announced after its purchase of Harry Winston that it wished to increase the jeweller’s diamond portfolio to meet international demand. The pear-shaped stone had been estimated at up to CHF22.5 million. It weighs 13.22 carats and was…

Demographics

Inside Giger’s world

This content was published on May 14, 2014 The works of Swiss artist HR Giger often came under attack for being explicit and pornographic. But Giger’s art was not obscene. The world he created was an expression of his darkest thoughts in what he considered to be a form of therapy. His biomechanical style was the result of what was at the time,…

Handling masterpieces with a troubled past

This content was published on May 14, 2014

Culture

Munich court analyses Gurlitt’s wills

This content was published on May 13, 2014 The two documents, dated January 9 and February 21, 2014, were submitted to Munich justice authorities by a notary public in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The Munich District Court is responsible for reviewing Gurlitt’s case because that is where he had his “last habitual residence”. Gerhard Ziel, president of the Munich court, told the…

Demographics

Health care costs hit all-time high

This content was published on May 13, 2014 Hospital spending saw a particularly large increase, with 9.8% more (or another CHF2.3 billion) spent on hospital care over the previous year. On average, CHF709 was spent per month on health care for each person in Switzerland. Of that, CHF254 was covered by mandatory insurance that everyone must buy, and CHF178 was paid for out-of-pocket.…

Demographics

Master of horror talks about his work

This content was published on May 13, 2014 Hans Ruedi Giger was a surrealist painter, sculptor and set designer. He was born in Chur, Switzerland in 1940, and later studied architecture and industrial design at Zurich’s School of Applied Arts. He developed a freehand airbrush painting style that he used to great effect in his “biomechanical” landscape artworks. He gained a new level…

Culture

‘Alien’ creator H.R. Giger is dead

This content was published on May 13, 2014 The terrifying creature and sets he created for Ridley Scott’s film earned him an Oscar for special effects in 1980. In the art world, Giger is appreciated for his wide body of work in the fantastic realism and surrealistic genres. His talent for scaring movie audiences was repeated in Poltergeist 2 (1986), Alien 3 (1992)…

Demographics

When it comes to sex, Swiss ‘regrettent rien’

This content was published on May 12, 2014 The survey, released on Monday, was commissioned by the Swiss AIDS Federation and the Swiss Sexual Health Foundation, together with the Federal Health Office. Around 80% of the 1,000 respondents, aged 18-60, said they were very or mostly satisfied with sex. Some 90% admitted having sex in the past 12 months. Of those, 80% had…

Demographics

Art and public space, a troubled relationship

This content was published on May 12, 2014 Does public space belong to everyone? This becomes hard to answer in a country with a tradition of direct democracy, where even art projects designed for public spaces can fall victim to a popular vote – or the threat of one. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) Whenever art invades the public space, questions inevitably arise. Some cannot identify with it, others lament the “waste of money”. Who decides which art might be appropriate for the masses? While public spaces should belong to everybody, inspiring content and the taste of the majority rarely coincide. Public space can becomes a battleground where different conflicts are fought. On one side the needs of a community, on the other, the independence and freedom of art. Art thrives on being uncompromising and the element of surprise. It breaks the status quo and attracts contrasting viewpoints. In Switzerland this tussle began with the Zurich graffiti artist Harald Naegeli. He used the city like a canvas. The more his drawings appeared on the walls, the more aggressive were the reactions. It’s a conflict that continues today.

Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Guatemala police chief faces Geneva court

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Blue diamond sold for CHF21.4 million

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Inside Giger’s world

More

Handling masterpieces with a troubled past

More

Munich court analyses Gurlitt’s wills

More

Health care costs hit all-time high

More

Master of horror talks about his work

More

‘Alien’ creator H.R. Giger is dead

More

When it comes to sex, Swiss ‘regrettent rien’

More

Art and public space, a troubled relationship

Popular Stories

Most Discussed