Dignity trampled underfoot, Architect: Gringo Cardia - ©Alain Germond
From 18 to 20 May, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva will re-open its doors for a long weekend of festivities during which the public will be invited to discover its new Permanent Exhibition, “The Humanitarian Adventure”.
After 22 months of closure for renovation, the museum has invited a series of talented artists, dancers, musicians and illustrators to mark this special occasion with a number of free events suitable for both young and old.
On top of a magnificently choreographed dance performance by Foofwa d’Imobilité, a highly charged spectacle by the French company Transe-Express featuring flying drums, musical performances by the well-known jazz pianist, Léo Tardin, and Afro-Pop musician, John Arcadius, there will be a breath-taking performance by Alain Roche, and his suspended piano!
Alain Roche, and his suspended piano
In between these events, visitors will have the opportunity to look on as press cartoonists adorn some of museum flags with their many and varied humorous illustrations. These illustrations will mark the end of the “ Flagships of Hope” campaign, a traveling roadshow that toured Switzerland in the weeks leading up to the opening of the museum, in which people were invited to write or draw their visions of hope on more than 3,000 flags. A selection of these flags will be on show during the re-opening festivities.
The central theme throughout the three days of special events will, of course, be the museum’s new Permanent Exhibition: The Humanitarian Adventure. Planned around three crucial topics, “Defending human dignity”, “Restoring family links”, and “Reducing natural risks”, the new-style museography reflects today’s changing world, and particularly the changes affecting humanitarian action, and looks to the future with a message of hope for all.
Three architects from different cultural backgrounds were chosen in 2010 to design the scenography of the new exhibition: Shigeru Ban from Japan, Gringo Cardia from Brazil and Diébédo Francis Kéré from Burkina Faso. Their work was coordinated by atelier oï (La Neuveville, Switzerland), which was responsible for designing the common spaces and the new temporary exhibition room.
The message tree, Architect: Diébédo Francis Kéré - ©Alain Germond
Two first-class academic partners were also chosen by the Museum to take part in “The Humanitarian Adventure”: EPFL+ECAL Lab, which designed the immersive installation entitled “The Colours of Dignity”, and the HEAD – Genève, whose cinema students made a series of new montages using films from the Museum’s collection.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
Grand Re-opening: Saturday 18, Sunday 19 and Monday 20 May 2013,
from 10h00 to 18h00
Avenue de la Paix 17 – 1202 Genève
www.redcrossmuseum.ch/en/votre-visite/portes-ouvertes/
Free admission to the museum and all activities
Snacks available every day from 10h00 to 18h00.
SATURDAY 18 MAY
10h Ouverture du Musée
11h Performance de danse de Foofwa d’Imobilité
12h - 14h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Tom Tirabosco
13h Performance de danse de Foofwa d’Imobilité
14h - 16h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Raymond Burki
15h Spectacle «Mobile Homme» de Transe-Express
16h - 18h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Hélène Becquelin
17h Performance de danse de Foofwa d’Imobilité
18h Fermeture
SUNDAY 19 MAY
10h Ouverture du Musée
11h Concert de Léo Tardin – solo piano jazz
13h - 15h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Mix & Remix
15h Concert de John Arcadius – guitar
16h - 18h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Gérald Poussin
18h Fermeture
MONDAY 20 MAY
10h Ouverture du Musée
12h - 14h Dédicace de drapeaux avec Alain Robert
15h Performance d’Alain Roche – piano vertical
16h - 18h Dédicace de drapeaux
18h Fermeture
