Sat 9 March – Sat 4 May 2024

Migration Memories 
Installation and Exhibition
Galerie Litar Zurich

“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

A varied supporting programme accompanies the exhibition:
A performance and short reading, panel discussions and guided tours with the participants. The events are organised in collaboration with Alit, Musée imaginaire des migrations, Tandem im Museum and Weiter Schreiben Schweiz.

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 (starting from 9 March 2024)
Wed | Fri 2–6pm
Sat 1–4pm 
and by appointment

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

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

Sa 20. April | 14 Uhr

Migration Memories
45 Minuten mit Salma Zander-Martínez
Galerie Litar Zürich

Ausstellungsrundgang mit Beteiligten: Salma Zander-Martínez, Doktorandin der Kunstgeschichte UZH, lädt zu einer Führung durch die Ausstellung «Migration Memories» und teilt ihre Sicht auf das Thema.

Salma Zander-Martínez ist in Puebla, Mexiko, geboren. Ihre «vie européenne» begann 2012 in Paris, wo sie Kunstgeschichte studierte. 2015 kam sie in die Schweiz, zuerst in die Romandie. An der Université de Neuchâtel absolvierte sie einen Master in Muséologie. Seit 2020 wohnt sie in Zürich. Für sie sind die Romandie und die Deutschschweiz «zwei deutlich unterschiedliche Länder».

Im Rahmen der Ausstellung «Migration Memories», 9. März – 4. Mai 2024 in der Galerie Litar. Die Ausstellung ist vor und nach der Veranstaltung geöffnet (13.00–16.00 Uhr).

Eintritt inklusive Publikation: CHF 8 / CHF 5 (ermässigt: AHV, IV, Legi, KulturLegi)
Freier Eintritt für Menschen mit Ausweisen N, F, S und B sowie Mitgliederkarte für Sans Papiers.

Download: PDF Flyer «Migration Memories»

Galerie Litar
Letzistrasse 23, CH-8006 Zürich
info@litar.ch | Tel. +41 44 291 99 00

Tue 30 April 2024  | 7–9 pm

Reading Group Litar und Viceversa | Edition #11
Reading and Conversation with Wagdy El Komy und Joël László
Galerie Litar Zürich

Languages are fundamental to understanding. What could be more important than dialogue in times of crisis and social division? We believe in the silent power of literature and dialogue. The “Litar and Viceversa” reading group, which was launched in 2022, is dedicated to multilingualism and the understanding between languages and people.

Edition #11 – “Migration Memories” Special Edition
Wagdy El Komy “A Wall for Family Photos ... Instead of a Home” (2024)

The Egyptian author Wagdy El Komy and his translator Joël László will be guests on this special evening. For the “Migration Memories” exhibition, Wagdy El Komy (b. 1980) has written an essay and designed a wall collage. He vividly describes what it means to leave your family and to live in exile: “I long for a home, not for a homeland”. Wagdy El Komy has published seven novels and two collections of stories in Arabic. They reflect Egyptian reality in its many contradictory facets. In an interview with translator and author Joël László, he talks about living and writing between languages. The two have been working together on texts and translations as part of the “Weiter Schreiben Schweiz” project since 2021.

Reading Group Litar and Viceversa

The reading group is aimed at everyone who enjoys reading, thinking and discussing together. It is moderated by Christa Baumberger (Litar), Ruth Gantert (Viceversa Yearbook of Swiss Literatures) and the Romanian-French literary mediator Monica Salvan (Romanian Literature Museum Iaşi). Five to six gatherings take place per year, but is also possible to attend a single session. Each meeting focuses on a book that is read in advance by the participants. Authors, publishers and translators are also guests on selected evenings. Participation is free of charge and each event session ends with snacks and drinks. Multilingual discussions are welcome.

Wagdy El Komy’s essay was published in the “Migration Memories” Edition Litar 04. It will be sent to you as pdf document after registration.

The exhibition will be open from  6–7pm.
Admission fee including publication and reading group: CHF 8 / CHF 5 

Registration: 044 291 99 00 | info@litar.ch

Litar
Letzistrasse 23
CH-8006 Zurich

Sa, 4. Mai 2024 | 13.00–17.00 Uhr

Migration Memories
Finissage
Galerie Litar Zürich

13 Uhr Open House
14 Uhr Gespräch mit der Autorin Dragica Rajčić und der Übersetzerin Iryna Herasimovich. Moderation: Christa Baumberger. 
Im Anschluss Ausstellungsbesichtigung und Apéro. Eintritt frei.

Zum Schluss der Ausstellung «Migration Memories» öffnen wir den Horizont noch einmal weit: Die Autorin Dragica Rajčić und die Übersetzerin Iryna Herasimovich erörtern im Gespräch mit der Kuratorin Christa Baumberger ihre persönliche Sichtweise auf Migration, das Exil und das Heimischwerden in und zwischen den Sprachen.

In Kooperation mit Alit.

Download: PDF Flyer «Migration Memories»

Galerie Litar
Letzistrasse 23, CH-8006 Zürich
info@litar.ch | Tel. +41 44 291 99 00