Where Does the Dream Begin?
Neyen Pailamilla
As a Mapuche artist, I perceive rivers and bodies of water as living beings, equal to humans, with nature and humanity as parts of an interconnected network. Since I moved to Switzerland, I have sought ways to connect emotionally with the Swiss landscape and its history through performance and video. "Where Does the Dream Begin?" is a work that presents collaborations with the river Sihl through a dreamlike aesthetic seeking a spiritual connection with the river.
Under the Ice
Michael Kessler, David Oesch
In a melting glacier, a research team examines the ice to extract historical climate data. The drilling project stalls, and Dr. Sasha Sirkovsky is brought in. She discovers something unexpected: the ice cores not only reflect the history of the Earth but also hold echoes of Sasha's own past.
Der Molchkongress
Matthias Sahli, Immanuel Esser
Newly discovered talking giant salamanders have been exploited by humans for years as low-level labor and test subjects. On a nature-surrounded conference site, the Congress of Newts takes place, where participants gather to discuss the usability of these creatures. The short film is a loose adaptation of Karel Čapek’s "War with the Newts".
Theater of Glass
Chloe Kelly
This video-essay philosophises on the phenomenon of aquariums; from the first glass display cases in Victorian England, up until today’s 'entertainment-education' experiences at commercial aquariums and zoos. With the context of Bad-Tiefenbrunnen as a boundary space between the lake's under-water aquatic environment and the man-made city of Zurich, the work discusses the human act of displaying non-human ecosystems within urban architectures. The essay focuses on the human gaze upon the animal, and the technologies we use to gaze. Today, the word “transparency” is used as much metaphorically as it is used literally; the term is a supposed new 'value' of companies and governments. But what metaphors can we see in the transparent aquarium glass? Is the aquarium glass a boundary between two worlds; an honest reflection? Or is it just another means of illusion and voyeurism?
Future Waves
Alissa Knopp, Alain Scherer, Raymond Frey
Five short films invite viewers to rethink water. How can adaptive relaxation spaces emerge on water? How would water move without gravity? Are invasive species in our waters a problem? And what is the value of the drinking water that surrounds us every day? These films pose questions, open up perspectives, and propose visionary ideas for the future. The project was created as part of the 5th semester module of the Bachelor in Industrial Design at ZHdK, led by Susanne Marti and Robert Wettstein.
Date: Friday 14.2.2025, 17:30–19:00.
Location: Restaurant Pavilion. The number of places is limited. We recommend arriving early to secure a spot.
Perspectives and Perception: The short film evening opens new perspectives on water and the environment through artistic and experimental narrative forms.