This year, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the Republic of Korea,
Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Korea
It is with great pleasure that I present to you the last newsletter of the year. This year, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the Republic of Korea, we have worked extensively with our collaborators, partners and friends to further strengthen the ties between the two nations.
As part of our anniversary year celebrations, we will hold the Swiss-Korean "4321 Christmas Market" in December at the Swiss Hanok, our embassy premises. The 4321-market was originally inspired by the Christmas market at ECAL in Lausanne (Ecole Cantonale d'Art de Lausanne). It will be showcasing a selection of design items created as a result of the exchange between 20 Swiss- and Korea-based designers. These unique items produced exclusively for the Christmas market will be sold for charity.
On the visual arts front, we are pleased to invite you to a series of captivating exhibitions. "Flower Power" from Videocity will immerse you in a world of creative expression at art space Songeun, while the exhibition "Spaceless" will make its debut in Daegu, after its successful show at the Swiss Pavilion in Gwangju Biennale 2023 following its premiere at the Swiss Embassy in Seoul last year. At the Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center, the "Swiss Room" of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) Museum will have a soft opening for the public in November, ahead of a definite opening to be scheduled by Gyeonggi Tourism.
It has been a busy year for us at the Embassy with a myriad of meaningful events held both in and outside of the Embassy. We are truly grateful for the support we received throughout the year from our partners, collaborators and friends in making these events a huge success. We are also thankful to the audience who were enthusiastic about our events.
We are delighted to have forged new links this year, further strengthening the existing bonds between our two countries. We are full of hope for the future of Swiss-Korean relations and look forward to strengthening these ties even further in the future.
We hope that you enjoyed the variety of events the Embassy hosted this year and that you will join us during the last two months of our anniversary year.
I wish you a joyful and happy festive season ahead.
Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli
Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Korea
Videocity x SONGEUN with "Flower Power"
Date: 01.11 - 30.11.2023
Venue: SongEun (441 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
Videocity is an international public art project from Switzerland. Videocity’s special exhibition “Flower Power” will be displayed at the outdoor screen of SONGEUN. The installation is a result of the cultural exchange between Korea and Switzerland, and encourages an interplay between art and life. Six works by Korean and Swiss artists speak of “Utopia” in their experiences – a strong yet sophisticated message translated into intriguing visual languages. The videos examine the social norms and shifts caused by technology, while reflecting on the implications for the understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
"Swiss Room" at Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center
Date: 10.11 - 26.11.2023
Venue: Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center (Baegyeon-ri 357 1, Gunnae-myeon, Paju-si)
Entry fee: KRW 3'000
The Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center, featuring the newly opened “Swiss room” of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) museum, is opening its doors to the public for a limited period of time. Guests can take a gondola to Camp Greaves via the Imjingak Peace Park and visit the former US base that has been transformed to a space of art and history. Entry is possible at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm with a maximum visit time of 80 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on-site, no prior reservation is required.
More information
Visual Landscapes
Date: November 2023 - ongoing
Visual Landscapes is an online project by the collective Craft Group that features interviews with designers who shape the visual landscapes of Switzerland and South Korea. The project is not just an independent publication but will function as a forum for discussion on contemporary and historical concerns about design.
More information
Photo Exhibition "Spaceless" and "60 Swiss Photobooks"
Date: 01.12 - 21.01.2024
Location: ArtSpace LUMOS (GEO space 5F + rooftop, 139, Icheon-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu)
After its success at the Swiss Embassy in 2022 and the Gwangju Biennale in 2023, the photo exhibition 'Spaceless' will be on display for its third edition in Daegu, in cooperation with ArtSpace LUMOS (director: Jae-hyun Seok).
'Spaceless' explores urbanism and architecture in today’s digitized world. It shows works of eight young professional photographers from South Korea and Switzerland, who have studied at the respected institutions of ChungAng University and ECAL. This exchange exhibition provides an artistic point of view on the urban environment and digital transformations of human perception and the social changes that go with them. Spaceless is curated by Kyungwoo Chun, photographer and professor at ChungAng University’s College of Arts.
The exhibition '60 Swiss Photobooks', which showcases the latest trends and developments in Swiss photography and design, will also be exhibited for the third time. The exhibition was presented at the Swiss Pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale 2023 and curated by professor Kyungwoo Chun in collaboration with Fotostiftung Schweiz, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Photo Elysée, and ECAL.
More Information (available from November 15)
4321 Christmas market: Swiss-Korea souvenir shop
Date: 09.12.2023
Time: 11 am - 6 pm
Venue: Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea (77 Songwol-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03165)
A special Christmas charity market will be held at the Swiss Embassy in Seoul. The 4321-market was originally inspired by the Christmas market at ECAL in Lausanne (Ecole Cantonale d'Art de Lausanne). Items for sale include design objects and art works crafted by emerging Swiss- and Korea-based designers. These works are the result of an exchange program where the designers introduced each other to their respective cultures by sending inspirational objects. After a collaborative exchange, they then created a design object which is inspired by their counterpart’s country. All proceeds will be donated to Eastern Social Welfare Society.