Portrait

Litar – a place for literature and its promotion. Zurich’s Galerie Litar hosts regular exhibitions and events on literary topics. We also produce publications and projects in the fields of literature, translation and the media.

Litar aims to spark ideas, discover new things and start conversations about rarely raised subjects. To do so, we work with programmes that run for several years and encompass a range of formats. We run our projects ourselves or in collaboration with other institutions.

The Litar Foundation is a non-profit organization; it does not accept funding applications.

 

Newsletter

Thank you for your interest in Litar. Our newsletter is published in German and informs readers about our current projects and upcoming events. It is sent out four to six times a year and can be cancelled at any time.

Sign up for our newsletter (in German)



Programmes

Litar works on thematic projects that run over several years. Our objective is to explore literary content off the beaten track. In a fast-moving world, Litar takes the time for an in-depth examination of a subject, allowing it to develop on a regional, national and international basis and take effect far beyond the scope of the original programme. 

litafrika
Exhibition Trilogy 2022–2024
Litar | Strauhof Zurich

Litar and the Strauhof Zurich are dedicating the exhibition trilogy “litafrika” (2022–2024) to literatures from the African continent. The first exhibition “Poetries of a Continent”, based on the anthology “Afrika im Gedicht” (Zurich 2015) by the Swiss literary mediator Al Imfeld, stages a selection of exemplary poems in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic from postcolonial classics to the current slam and spoken word scene. The exhibition was curated by Christa Baumberger and Rémi Jaccard. Zukiswa Wanner wrote the concept for “Artistic Encounters” after visiting “Poetries of a Continent”. The third part (2024) of the project is in development.
 

Pro Helvetia "To-gather" 2022–2024

Pro Helvetia supports “litafrika” over its entire duration in the “To-gather” programme. This funding vehicle enables new intercontinental collaborations and the establishment of long-term networks. The aim is to make the exchange between cultures more equal and sustainable as well as to test new forms of collaboration.
 

litafrika on Youtube

Selected exhibition contents as well as online events can also be viewed on the Youtube channel @litafrika.
 

litafrika, part 2

litafrika – Artistic Encounters
16 June to 10 September 2023 | Strauhof Zurich

The second exhibition presented eight scenes from contemporary African literatures: curator Zukiswa Wanner (South Africa/Kenya) staged encounters between current novels and performance, music or visual art. Across national and linguistic borders, the exhibition shed light on a generation of writers who are well connected and internationally active. More…

litafrika, part 1

litafrika – Poetries of a Continent
3 June to 4 September 2022 | Strauhof Zurich

The starting point for the first exhibition was the monumental anthology “Afrika im Gedicht” (Zurich 2015), edited by the Swiss journalist and theologian Al Imfeld. Exemplary poems were staged, ranging from postcolonial classics to the current slam and spoken word scenes. The exhibition was curated by Christa Baumberger and Rémi Jaccard. More…


Current Publications

litafrika – Artistic Encounters. 8 Bücher – 8 Begegnungen | Edition Litar 03
Edited by Christa Baumberger, Rémi Jaccard, Nicole Schmid and Zukiswa Wanner. In German.
With excerpts from novels by Ishmael Beah, Virgília Ferrão, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Angela Makholwa, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Yara Nakahanda Monteiro, Fiston Mwanza Mujila and Ondjaki. German translations by Katja Meintel, Elisa Fuchs and others. Accompanying texts to the novels and photographs of the eight artistic encounters. Introductions by Christa Baumberger, Rémi Jaccard and Zukiswa Wanner.
Litar 2023 | 82 pages | 36 illustrations colour and b/w | ISBN 978-3-9525728-2-5
CHF 7.– (plus shipping costs)
Order: info@strauhof.ch 


litafrika – Artistic Encounters | Paivapo Publishers
Edited by Zukiswa Wanner. With the eight excerpts of the novels in Portuguese, English and French. Some text excerpts were translated specifically for the exhibition by Edwige-Renée Dro and Sandra Tamele.
Paivapo 2023 | 189 pages | ISBN 978-0-639782-41-6
Order: info@strauhof.ch


litafrika – Artistic Encounters 8/2023 | Online magazine Periferias
Periferias is a Brazilian online platform with themed issues in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English. The Periferias special issue “litafrika – Artistic Encounters” 8/2023 was published on the occasion of the exhibition.
Link: revistaperiferias.org


litafrika – Poetries of a Continent | Online magazine Specimen – Babel Review of Translation
Specimen, the online magazine for literary translation, has dedicated a focus to “litafrika” in its August 2023 issue. It presents a selection of poems from the exhibition “litafrika – Poetries of a Continent” in various new translations and languages.
Link: Specimen
 

Al Imfeld Article Collection

The collection of articles by the Swiss theologian and Africa journalist Al Imfeld contains newspaper articles on the literatures of the entire African continent from 1960 to 2014. The collection can be viewed at Litar by prior appointment. Al Imfeld article collection: Inventory
Contact: info@litar.ch

Glimpse of the Martin Dreyfus Collection, from which books and documents were on display in the exhibition “Frisch und Fein. Exil Zürich 1933” at Galerie Litar, Zurich, 15 April to 10 June 2023.

Stimmlos
Literature and (In-)Justice

Which voices do we hear and who is denied a voice? Litar provides a platform for writers who were heard too rarely, for a wide range of reasons. Some were institutionalized or even declared incapable of speaking for themselves. Others withdrew and eventually fell silent. What remains is written traces, stories and novels, documents of their lives and sometimes also visual works. The “Stimmlos” (“Unvoiced”) programme acts as an amplifier, following these quiet voices, providing a space for the unheard and presenting stories that have not yet been written.

An installation at Galerie Litar allows visitors to experience the theme of “Unvoiced” with all their senses. Changing exhibitions are shown in a walk-in cell. Voices sound out, combined with images, photography and film. The cell’s confining walls invite visitors to cross mental boundaries.
 

Exhibitions to date:

Frisch und Fein. Exil Zürich 1933
Galerie Litar, 15 April to 10 June 2023
More (in German)…

Aus der Stille ... Peter Liechti
Galerie Litar, 8 October to 3 December 2022
More (in German)…

Adelheid Duvanels Himmel
Galerie Litar, 30 October to 11 December 2021
More (in German)…

Friedrich Glausers Zelle
Galerie Litar, 28 May to 10 July 2021
More (in German)…

Damian Le Bas, Crisis Time / Refugee Could Be You Could Be Me, 2016 | Photo: Kai Dikhas, Diego Castellano Cano

Weltenweit 
Yenish, Sinti and Roma Literatures

Under the title “Weltenweit” (“Worlds Wide”), Litar has focused since 2019 on Yenish, Sinti and Roma literatures and cultures. Switzerland has recognized the Yenish and Sinti as national minorities since 2016. The Roma are still fighting for official recognition in the country, however. The cultures of these minorities are rich and diverse – and yet barely known. Litar organized the “Weltenweit” Festival at Kosmos Zurich (5 and 6 April 2019) to change that. For the first time in Switzerland, Yenish, Sinti and Roma culture formed the focus of a festival. Since then, Litar has held readings, workshops, teaching events and panels in various places in Switzerland and Austria, on our own or in cooperation with institutions such as RomArchive, Initiative Minderheiten Tirol and Radgenossenschaft.
 

Current Publication

Morphing the Roma Label
Roma Jam Session art Kollektiv (Mo Diener, RR Marki and Milena Petrovic)
Published by Mo Diener and RR Marki, Zurich 2022.
Texts in German, English and Romanes.
Info and order: OnCurating.org

Publication and translations into Romanes were made possible with the support of Litar.

Morphing the Roma Label

Agenda

Unless otherwise specified, events are listed in the language or the languages in which they will be held.

Do 26. Oktober 2023 | 18.30–20.30 Uhr
Exil erzählen: Living Library | Zürich liest
Litar Zürich

Living Library zum Thema «Exil erzählen». Die Galerie Litar wird zur Bibliothek für Geschichten von Migration und Flucht. Unsere Gäste erzählen vom Ankommen und dem Aufbau eines neuen Lebens. Gespräch in kleinen Gruppen, alle bringen ihre Fragen mit.
Kooperation Verein Living Library.

Mehr...

So 29. Oktober 2023 | 14.00–16.00 Uhr
Exil erzählen: Living Library | Zürich liest
Litar Zürich

Living Library zum Thema «Exil erzählen». Die Galerie Litar wird zur Bibliothek für Geschichten von Migration und Flucht. Unsere Gäste erzählen vom Ankommen und dem Aufbau eines neuen Lebens. Gespräch in kleinen Gruppen, alle bringen ihre Fragen mit.
Kooperation Verein Living Library.

Mehr...

Di 7. November 2023 | 19.00–21.00 Uhr
Lesekreis Litar und Viceversa | Kreis #09
Tatiana Țîbuleac «Der Garten aus Glas»
Litar Zürich

Tatiana Ţîbuleac wurde in Chișinău in der Republik Moldau geboren und lebt heute in Frankreich. Ursprünglich Journalistin, ist «Der Garten aus Glas» ihr zweiter Roman. Er wurde 2019 mit dem Literaturpreis der Europäischen Union ausgezeichnet und wird derzeit in mehrere Sprachen übersetzt.

Mehr...

Information on past events is available here.

Galerie Litar

Galerie Litar stages exhibitions and holds events and workshops.

Galerie Litar. Photo: Zeljko Gataric.


Previous exhibitions

Frisch und Fein. Exil Zürich 1933
15 April to 10 June 2023

More (in German)... 

Aus der Stille ... Peter Liechti
8 October to 3 December 2022

More (in German)... 

Adelheid Duvanels Himmel
30 October to 11 December 2021

More (in German)... 

Friedrich Glausers Zelle
28 May to 10 July 2021

More (in German)... 

Contact

 

The Litar Foundation is based at Letzistrasse 23, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland. We host regular exhibitions and events.

 How to get to Litar: 
- Tram 10 from Zurich central station to Letzistrasse (10 mins)
- Tram 10 from Zurich airport to Letzistrasse (20 mins)
- Tram 9 from Bellevueplatz to Letzistrasse (10 mins)

 

Galerie Litar, photos: Zeljko Gataric and Ayse Yavas.

Litar

Letzistrasse 23, CH-8006 Zurich
Tel. +41 44 291 99 00
info@litar.ch
www.litar.ch

Newsletter

Thank you for your interest in Litar. Our newsletter is published in German and informs readers about our current projects and upcoming events. It is sent out four to six times a year and can be cancelled at any time.

 

Sign up for our newsletter (in German)



Team

Christa Baumberger
Management

Dr Christa Baumberger is responsible for the programme. A literary scholar, cultural journalist and curator, she has wide experience of managing cultural projects. She has been a jury member of the FOC (Federal Office of Culture) Swiss Literary Awards since 2022. From 2017 to 2022, she was a curator at the Aargauer Kuratorium (head curator literature; also theatre & dance). Trustee at the Christoph Geiser Foundation; mandates as a moderator and curator.

Melissa Caflisch
Coordination and communication

Melissa Caflisch is responsible for Litar’s coordination and communication. After gaining a degree in Japanese studies, she worked in publicity for several cultural institutions, for instance the CULTURESCAPES festival and most recently Festspiele Zurich. Alongside Litar, she also works for the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich.

Nicole Schmid
Assistance

Nicole Schmid is the assistant to the “litafrika” project and for Litar’s general operations. Alongside Litar, she works in the intercultural association voCHabular. During her degree in literary studies, she gained a range of insights into literary and cultural mediation at Strauhof Zurich and the Goethe-Institut Chicago.

Photos team: Ayse Yavas