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.
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.
Makola Market, Library of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATAD), Autor Kobby Ben Ben mit Seth Avusuglo (LOATAD) in Accra, 2023, Fotos: Nipah Dennis | Domaine Bini Forêt in Abidjan, 2023, Foto: Nuits Balnéaires
litafrika – Abidjan & Accra
Strauhof Zürich, 07.06.–08.09.2024
Zwei Städte, zwanzig Szenen: Die dritte und letzte litafrika-Ausstellung setzt den Fokus auf zwei Metropolen in Westafrika: Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire und Accra in Ghana.
Ausgangspunkt sind die feministische Bibliothek «1949books» und das Archiv «The Library of Africa and The African Diaspora» (LOATAD). Doch sind die Szenen divers: Literatur ist auch Rap, Slam, Tanz, Storytelling. Die Ausstellung lässt das Publikum mittels Videoinstallationen und Fotografien in das literarische Leben und die Grossstädte Abidjan und Accra eintauchen, präsentiert aktuelle Autor:innen und wirft Schlaglichter auf die koloniale Vergangenheit zweier Nachbarländer, die sich nah und fern zugleich sind.
Die Ausstellung wird von einem internationalen Kurator:innen-Kollektiv kuratiert, die Video-Aufnahmen wurden von lokalen Filmschaffenden in Côte d’Ivoire und Ghana realisiert:
Kurator:innen-Kollektiv
Sylvia Arthur und Seth Avusuglo (LOATAD, Accra), Edwige-Renée Dro (1949books, Abidjan), Christa Baumberger und Nicole Schmid (Litar, Zürich)
Filme und Fotografien
Nipah Dennis und Prince Agyie Peprah (Accra) und Nuits Balnéaires (Abidjan)
Ausstellungstrilogie «litafrika» 2022–2024
Der Strauhof und die Stiftung Litar widmen den Literaturen aus dem afrikanischen Kontinent die Ausstellungstrilogie «litafrika» (2022–2024). Die dritte und letzte «litafrika»-Ausstellung 2024 baut auf den beiden Ausstellungen «Poesien eines Kontinents» (2022) und «Artistic Encounters» (2023) auf.
Youtube-Kanal litafrika
Der Youtube-Kanal litafrika bietet ausgewählte Ausstellungsinhalte und Gespräche: @litafrika
Pro Helvetia «To-gather» 2022–2024
Pro Helvetia unterstützt «litafrika» im Programm «To-gather». Dieses Fördergefäss ermöglicht neue interkontinentale Kollaborationen und den Aufbau langfristiger Netzwerke. Das Ziel ist, den Austausch zwischen Kulturen gleichberechtigter und nachhaltiger zu gestalten und neue Formen der Zusammenarbeit zu erproben.
Impressum
Gesamtleitung litafrika
Christa Baumberger (Litar) und Rémi Jaccard (Strauhof)
Projektleitung Strauhof
Rémi Jaccard und Philip Sippel
Szenografie und Grafik
Rahel Arnold
Filmeditorin
Carlotta Holy
Die Ausstellung wird unterstützt von
Pro Helvetia / «To-gather» und Ernst Göhner Stiftung
litafrika, part 2
litafrika, part 1
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
“Migration Memories”, exhibition at Galerie Litar Zurich, 9.3.–4.5.2024 | Graphic image: Rahel Arnold
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.
Migration Memories
For the current exhibition, “Migration Memories”, Galerie Litar will be transformed into a lost property office for memories. Fifteen people have contributed an object and a story. In short videos, they tell of farewells, losses and new beginnings, of self-empowerment, special rituals and the richness of multilingualism. Fifteen stories about the meaning of memory and being here in the world, which are touching, powerful and thought-provoking. More…
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.
Agenda
Unless otherwise specified, events are listed in the language or the languages in which they will be held.
Information on past events is available here.
Galerie Litar
Galerie Litar stages exhibitions and holds events and workshops.
Opening hours “Migration Memories” (9 March to 4 May 2024)
Wed | Fr 2 to 6 pm
Sat 1 to 4 pm
and by arrangement
1 May: 2 to 6 pm
Letzistrasse 23, 8006 Zurich
info@litar.ch | Tel. +41 44 291 99 00
“Migration Memories”. Exhibition at Galerie Litar, Zurich, 9 March to 4 May 2024. Photos: Ayse Yavas and Nakarin Saisorn.
Migration Memories
9 March to 4 May 2024
“Migration Memories” is an exhibition about migration, displacement and arrival in Switzerland. Fifteen people have contributed an object and a story. In short videos, they tell of farewells, losses and new beginnings, of self-empowerment, special rituals and the richness of multilingualism. Fifteen stories about the meaning of memory and being here in the world, which are touching, powerful and thought-provoking.
A sound installation in German and English with literary texts by Etel Adnan, Yanara Friedland and Ivna Žic accompanies the exhibition. Reflections on migration and exile are combined with personal memories and dreams of feeling at home through language.
Curator: Christa Baumberger
With contributions by:
Husain Buyook, Martin Dreyfus, Wagdy El Komy, Andualem Bekele Eshetie, Nushaba Hasanova, Iryna Herasimovich, Safiyo Hussein Abdi, Ali S. Karadas, Ana Lupu, Reya Morgado, Dragica Rajčić Holzner, Farzad Tagharrobi, Farnaz Teymoorazof, Ayse Yavas, Salma Zander-Martínez
Events
Opening event with a performance by Reya Morgado and a short reading by Ana Lupu, panel discussion with Dragica Rajčić and Iryna Herasimovich, reading group with Wagdy El Komy and Joël László, an office for migration stories with Beat Mazenauer as well as guided tours with the participants.
The events are organised in cooperation with Alit, Musée imaginaire des migrations, Tandem im Museum and Weiter Schreiben Schweiz.
Edition Litar
The exhibition is accompanied by the publication Edition Litar 04, edited by Christa Baumberger. With texts by Husain Buyook, Wagdy El Komy and Ana Lupu. Picture series with objects and stories as well as portraits of all the people who have contributed to the exhibition. Order: info@litar.ch | CHF 8.– (plus shipping costs).
Opening hours Galerie Litar
Wed | Fri 2–6pm
Sat 1–4pm
and by appointment
1 May: 2 to 6 pm
Admission fee including publication: CHF 8 / CHF 5 (reduced: AHV, IV, Legi, KulturLegi)
Free admission for people with ID cards N, F, S and B and membership card for Sans Papiers.
Download: PDF Flyer «Migration Memories»
Galerie Litar
Letzistrasse 23, 8006 Zurich
info@litar.ch | Tel. +41 44 291 99 00
Imprint
Managing Director Litar | Curator: Christa Baumberger
Curatorial assistance: Nicole Schmid
Exhibition graphic design: Rahel Arnold
Voices: Thomas Douglas, Ivna Žic
Audio: Film Klang Kollektiv
Audio/video installation: Jörg Hüssy
Design “Zelle”: Klauser Lienhard Design Studio
Communication: Simone Ammann
Collaboration Galerie Litar: Dorothea Eppler
Previous exhibitions
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.
Team
Photos team: Ayse Yavas