Water, power and resistance

The 1950s saw a sharp rise in demand for electricity, including in Switzerland. Dams started to be built in the Alps on a grand scale. Once-in-a-generation projects such as the Grande Dixence dam, but also the flooding of the village of Marmorera in 1954 and the Mattmark disaster in 1965, fundamentally changed the lives of people in the Alpine regions. The video installation looks at the economic momentum, recalls the political disputes and addresses the logistical challenges. Contemporary witnesses talk about their various experiences relating to hydropower in the Alps, from the incredible feats of engineering to the tough working conditions on the construction sites. They describe the expansion of the infrastructure, but also how it impacted the world they lived in. And they look back at the resistance movement that developed against resettlement and at the calls for environmental protection.

About the format

Sometimes objects fail to tell the full story behind formative developments in Switzerland’s recent past. The ‘Experiences of Switzerland‘ format focuses on contemporary witnesses. Their fates and experiences, which in most cases are not found in any archives or records, provide visitors with a multifaceted and emotional insight into Swiss history. Featuring a different topic every year, the format does away with exhibits and consists of a large-format, immersive projection with sound delivered through headphones. Meanwhile, an exploration station features information on the latest research findings in the area and places the topic in its cultural-historical context.