A pizza box against bone-dry history

If you have kids, you know what one of «those» night looks like. After one of those, followed by a day without a nap, I head off, somewhat motivated, to the Landesmuseum. Historic Zurich? I’m going to need some more coffee first.

I adroitly maneuver the stroller up the ramp to the entrance, and learn that the permanent exhibit called «Einfach Zürich» is free of charge. «Einfach Zürich» is an organization supported by the City and Canton, working in cooperation with the Landesmuseum to help uncover Zurich’s cultural history – three rooms in the Landesmuseum promise a «multimedia experience».

The Landesmuseum is ready for baby and me. There’s a room for strollers on the basement level (they’re not allowed in the exhibition rooms). But then you can borrow buggies (not the best for the tiniest of babies) and carriers, and there’s a changing table, too. In terms of baby-friendly, the Landesmuseum is next level!

We arrive at the first floor, where we’re greeted by a huge friendly sculpture by the artist collective Mickry 3. This is anything but bone-dry history. Famous Zurich landmarks and personal impressions are playfully incorporated into the work, and the little «Haus» by Fischli und Weiss makes an even tinier appearance, too. There’s the succulent collection, the Rote Fabrik (Red Factory), the Böögg, and the Offene Rennbahn (Oerlikon Velodrome) – it’s like a hidden picture game for fans of Zurich’s best-loved tourist destinations. But that’s not all: there are also other hidden delights to find, such as a gray heron, an oddity native to Zurich.

«Einfach Zürich» shows more than just the city of Zurich. Other communities are highlighted, too. In a series of short films, twenty of them are presented in parallel on twenty screens. They are at turns witty, ironic, and personal, as local authors present «their» Bubikon, Rüschlikon, Pfungen, Steinmaur, and – not to be forgotten – the Säuliamt. Unassuming and quiet, this installation finds its place next to the weighty sculpture.

The second room caught my attention straightaway. The most disparate of objects are exhibited in a giant set of boxes, immediately piquing my curiosity: everyday things, small things, expensive things, huge ones, funny, disgusting, und indefinable things peer down at me from the boxes. Touchscreen stations feature images of the items – and my touch triggers the story behind the object, presented in images, text, and video. I find the digital native and art lover in me equally served at the same time. It’s cultural mediation at its finest.

The pizza box represents the story of Italian immigrants, who were largely responsible for building Zurich’s residential neighborhoods. I learn that the WC-Ente is a Zurich invention, and that Zurich had major problems with feces disposal until 1867. I press on an object I don’t recognize and find out it’s a pair of historic ice skates. Lake Zurich has frozen over just 26 times since 1223, and the screen shows me incredible archival images full of people enjoying the frozen lake. Unfortunately, in light of global warming, it’s an experience likely relegated to the archives.

The final room draws us into the world of topography. The video installation inside presents four journeys into the different inner depths: of the Hauptbahnhof, of the natural world along the Töss river, into Zurich’s old town, and to the lake floor. The baby squeals in delight, but I find myself growing groggy. So I turn around and head back to learn more about the Zwingli and the history of Zurich’s red-light district.

Picture: Zürisee 1891 (ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv / Fotograf: Unbekannt)