In every society, arts and culture matter. The preservation of cultural diversity is important for identity and intercultural dialogue. Works of art have the power to change perceptions and ways of thinking, and provide society with a medium through which they can address topical issues. For Switzerland, culture too has a role to play in sustainable development, which is why it supports the culture sector in its partner countries and promotes the diversity of cultural expressions. It also enables artists from the South and the East to access culture scenes in Switzerland and worldwide.
Arts and culture for sustainable development
The ripple effects of good art
Indian artist Mallika Taneja is a member of Tadpole Repertory, a collective of theatre practitioners and the co-founder of the festival Lost & Found in Delhi. She won the Zurich Cantonal Bank’s 2015 Patronage Prize for her short piece “Thoda Dhyan Se (Be careful)”, which was performed at Zurich’s annual Theater Spektakel. In just fifteen minutes, this satirical piece shows a young actress presenting the absurdity of well-intended codes of conduct for Indian women, such as wearing “decent, unprovocative clothing” to protect themselves against rape.
Mallika, what does this prize mean to you?
As an independent artist, the prize gives me one of the most appreciated goods: financial security, which means time to create. Secondly, if any sort of recognition validates your work, it puts you on the map. I am very happy I won.
What is important for you in your work as an
actress?
I like to do things that are relevant in our times and to the audience. My work doesn’t have to deliver a specific political or social message. A good performance will move you emotionally or intellectually or in energy. In one word, it inspires. Good art has a ripple effect. A powerful performance will make you part of it, of the experience of its journey. Otherwise, why bother? Why get out on stage? Why make people get out of their homes to sit in an auditorium if you do not want to reach out to them? We know by now that artistic performances also hold an enormous potential to trigger socio-political change. There is something extremely real about people talking to people. Energy is exchanged and shared. It is powerful and holds the ability to shift perspectives:minds, people’s emotions – all sorts of shifts can happen. The dialogue with the audiences is very valuable for me. I am surprised and overwhelmed by the support I get from them.
And what is the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is to remain honest. It is very difficult, especially now, I find myself giving all these interviews and saying all these big things. But I keep thinking: how I am going to live up to this? How to constantly do a job which has relevance and builds resilience? Truth and honesty: they are very difficult to define, to understand and to stick to.
What meaning do cultural events have for a society?
If we take theatre to the neighbourhoods, we will create an alternative ecosystem for the arts and generate an enormous new audience. Over the years it will change the culture of the city and influence how people interact with each other in a positive way.
Artists shine a spotlight on challenges faced by mountain regions
The Sustainable Mountain Art (SMArt) programme was launched in 2014 by the Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (FDDM) in Sion. SMArt, which benefits from SDC support, uses art to raise official and public awareness of the challenges faced by mountain regions. This five-year project is based around four central themes: climate change, water, migration and food security, which corresponds to the SDC’s four global programmes.
Thanks to support from the canton of Valais, SMArt has welcomed four photographers from the South and the East as temporary artists in residence. They were selected with help from cultural partners in a number of countries. One such artist is Maralgua Badarch, who arrived in Valais from Mongolia in winter 2015. In keeping with the mystical vision of the mountain that permeates Mongolian culture, she likens the mountains of Valais to giants with feet of clay. During her exhibition in Brig, visitors could view her works and take part in the SDC exhibition 'Aaruul and Justistaler: Mongolia and Switzerland in pictures'. The Mongolian public also had a chance to view her photos.
Exchange among artists
The FDDM and its partners make every effort to ensure that each stay culminates in an exhibition in Switzerland and in the artist’s home country. They also encourage exchanges with the artists themselves. This is how a beautiful friendship was forged between the Rwandan photographer Cyril Ndegeya and Fabrice Erba from Monthey in Switzerland. This bond gave rise to a new photography project 'The hidden side of water'. Their work was met with a very positive response in Rwanda.
Peruvian photographer and philosopher Alejandro León Cannock was struck by the scale of the impact that global warming has had on Valais: “What will happen to the water that flows in the irrigation channels and across Valais when the glaciers have disappeared?” During his time in Sierre, Cannock used his photographic skills to document the visible transformation of the Alpine landscape.