In this episode of art_biites I’m speaking with Denise Bertschi, a Swiss artist currently pursuing her research as a fellow at the Collegium Helveticum at ETH in Zurich. I’m interviewing Denise Bertschi on the occasion of her show at CAN, the Centre d’Art in Neuchâtel, Switzerland and she’s also currently participating in the exhibition *Colonial – Switzerland’s Global Entanglement* at the National Museum in Zurich, which is open until January 19th, 2025.
Denise Bertschi's work lies at the fascinating intersection of visual culture, colonial history, geopolitics, trade, and architecture. She earned her PhD at the Arts of Sciences Lab at the Department of Architecture at the EPFL in Lausanne and in 2020 she won the Manor Art Prize. In addition to her exhibitions, she’s self-published two monographic books on her research that have received the Most Beautiful Swiss Books Award in 2019 and 2022, and she’s shown her work both in Switzerland and internationally.
In this episode, we explore the artist's latest exhibitions but also give an overview of her previous work, highlighting her deep interest in the entanglements of trade, geopolitics, and the visual landscape with some of her latest work, specificall exploring the colonial history and the architectural legacy present in Neuchâtel. Her work which often starts with archival research has a distinctly activist edge—she’s driven to uncover Switzerland’s historical involvement in extractivist and discriminatory practices around the globe, and the repercussions this still has today.
Join me as we explore the dense and multifacetted work by Denise Bertschi, her research, and the stories she uncovers through her art.
Some topics discussed in this episode:
Uriel Orlow
ZHDK
EPFL
Long durée
Colonia Helvecia
Please consider subscribing to art_biites, as it helps to grow.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.